LOS ANGELES – The Lions pulled out a gritty 3-2 win over the Seattle RedHawks Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion, kicking off WCC play.

Seattle jumped ahead early in the first set, but a big block from Maddie Boerstra and Sophie Stephenson fired up a four-point LMU run to take the lead. The Redhawks answered back, but the Lions closed strong, ripping off six straight points, including back-to-back aces from Boerstra, to grab the opener, 25-21.

Set two was like set one, with Seattle taking an 11-9 lead. Nicole Schuetz threw up a key block to keep it close, but the Redhawks stayed in control and took it 25-18.

The third set was tight from start to finish. LMU struck first and held the edge until an attack error evened things up at 9-9. Kaitlyn Evans snapped the tie with a kill that sparked a three-point burst, and despite a few late pushes from Seattle, back-to-back kills from Sophia Keene and Stephenson sealed it 25-22.

Seattle answered in the fourth set. The set went back and forth early before the Redhawks broke away with a four-point run to lead 15-12. LMU clawed back within two on a Stephenson kill, but Seattle held on 25-21 to force a deciding set.

The Lions wasted no time in the fifth. A block by Evans kicked off a 5-0 run to go up 6-3, and they never let Seattle back in. The Redhawks made a late push, but Leah Burrell crushed a kill to finish it off 15-11 and secure the match.

Stephenson led the way with 17 kills, while Evans hit a sharp .500. Delfina Schuh dished out 30 assists, and Cecily Bramschreiber anchored the defense with 16 digs.

LMU heads to San Diego next, taking on the Toreros Saturday, Sept. 27.

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