SANTA MONICA, Calif. – LMU Beach Volleyball opened the 2023 season with a pair of wins Sunday at Ocean Park. The No. 7 Lions opened the day with a 3-2 win over No. 11 California. The decision came down to the 1s court to determine the winner of the dual. Melanie Paul and Vilhemiina Phihti held off the Golden Bears with a 15-13 final set to earn the first win of the season.
 
The Lions followed with a 5-0 sweep of Concordia, with all six courts going in straight sets.
 
Cal defeated Concordia 5-0 as well in the middle game.
 
Game 1: No. 7 LMU 3, No. 11 Cal 2
 
1s
Paul/Prihti (LMU) def. Gessner/Dreibholz (CAL) 21-19, 21-23, 15-13
 
2s
Thorup/Chinn (LMU) def. Radell/Delgado (CAL) 21-13, 21-17 
 
3s
Young/McKeown (CAL) def. Ramirez/Garder (LMU) 16-21, 19-21
 
4s
Caffo/Waters (CAL) def. Tucker Firnett (LMU) 15-21, 21-18, 12-15
 
5s
Hooker/Riffel (LMU) def Mann/Buchner (CAL)  21-14, 21-13
 
6s
Anderson/Johansen (LMU) def. Martin/Sears (CAL) 21-19, 21-18
 
 
Game 2: No. 7 LMU 5, Concordia 0
 
1s
Paul/Prihti (LMU) def. Phair/Highstreet (CUI) 21-18, 21-19
 
2s
Thorup/Chinn (LMU) def. Smith/Giusta (CUI) 21-19, 21-16
 
3s
Ramirez/Garder (LMU) def. Ostijic/Ryan (CUI) 33-31, 21-15
 
4s
Tucker/Firnett (LMU) def Alamodome/Preivitt (CUI) 21-13, 21-9
 
5s
Hooker/Riffel (LMU) def. Dyer/Moreno (CUI) 21-16, 21-13
 
6s
Anderson/Johansen (LMU) def Cufton/Souza (CUI) 21-9, 21-15
 
Up Next:
 
LMU will be in Malibu on Mar. 4 to face Houston Christian and rematch Concordia in Pepperdine's event.

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