SAN DIEGO – The Lions defeated the San Diego Toreros in an intense five-set match on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 3-2 victory. The Lions hold an 18-4 season record, leading the WCC at 10-1.

The Toreros jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the opening set. Though San Diego stayed ahead, LMU kept it close with two small 2-0 runs, featuring kills from Kalani Hayes and Paige Flickinger, closing the gap to 8-6. Midway through, USD extended their lead to 17-10 after scoring three consecutive points. The Lions responded with a four-point spree, sparked by a Marlee Arrington kill, cutting the deficit to 19-17. Although the Lions made a strong effort, they couldn't close the gap, and San Diego took the first set, 25-19.

The Lions rallied back in set two, opening with four unanswered points. Shortly after, a block by Jiana Lawson and Sophie Stephenson launched another four-point burst, giving LMU a strong 12-2 lead. Although USD fought back with a five-point streak late in the set, the Lions held firm. Hayes kill, off a Delfina Schuh set, sealed the LMU set at 25-17.

In set three, LMU again started strong, scoring the first four points. San Diego managed even to score 7-7 and briefly led at 9-8. However, the Lions responded with back-to-back three-point burst, retaking the lead at 14-9. LMU maintained control and closed out the set with three straight kills, the last from Sophia Meyers, to win 25-17.

Set four was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads early on. San Diego eventually broke away with a three-point momentum swing to lead 16-12 and continued to pull ahead. The Lions fought back, narrowing the gap to 22-20 with a Flickinger kill and a Lauren Patterson service ace, but USD held on to win the set, 25-22, forcing a fifth.

In the decisive fifth set, LMU took an early 9-5 lead, fueled by a six-point rally starting with a Hayes kill. USD briefly interrupted with a point, but LMU answered with three more, prompting a timeout from San Diego. The Lions closed out the match with a final block from Lawson and Stephenson, taking the set 15-9 and the match 3-2.

The Lions will next face the Pepperdine Waves on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Malibu for the second part of the PCH Rivalry Cup.
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