LOS ANGELES — LMU defeated Saint Mary's 3-0 on Thursday at Gersten Pavilion, winning 25-14, 25-23, 25-20. The Lions broke a 13-13 tie in the third set by winning five of six rallies to move ahead 18-14.
Maria Tabacuks powered the LMU attack with a team-high 17 kills on a .412 hitting percentage, surpassing her season average of 14.92 kills per match, while totaling 20.5 points, seven digs and two service aces.
Delfina Schuh directed the Lions offensively with a team-high 29 assists while adding six digs, two service aces and one block assist. Schuh has now recorded at least 29 assists in five consecutive matches.
Nicole Schuetz contributed nine kills and two blocks, including one solo, while totaling 10.5 points.
Anya Santrac added five kills on a .231 hitting percentage, five digs, one service ace and one block assist.
The Lions built an 8-2 lead in the opening set, getting kills from
Aleksandra Stojanovic,
Zaria Thornton and
Maria Tabacuks along with service aces by
Delfina Schuh and Tabacuks during the early stretch. Saint Mary's moved within 11-6, but Loyola Marymount University won seven of the next eight rallies, with
Gabriella Cascione serving four straight points from 14-7 to 18-7 that included an ace, two Saint Mary's (CA) attack errors, and a Tabacuks kill. The Lions kept the margin in double digits late, reached 24-13 on a block by Stojanovic and Schuh, and closed the set 25-14 on another Tabacuks kill from Schuh.
The Lions answered Saint Mary's opening point with four straight points, getting a
Nicole Schuetz block, a Tabacuks kill and a Schuh ace to move ahead 4-1. Saint Mary's worked back to 8-8, later went in front 16-13 during a stretch that included two Lions attack errors, and extended the margin to 19-15 on kills by Antonie Kelnárová and Ava Galvan. Loyola Marymount University pulled within 19-18 on an
Anya Santrac ace and a Tabacuks kill, then drew even at 21-21 on a Saint Mary's attack error before the teams traded points to 23-23. A Mikayla Haner attack error put the Lions at set point, and Tabacuks finished the set with a kill from Schuh for a 25-23 win.
Saint Mary's (CA) moved ahead 4-1 early, but the Lions answered with kills by Schuh, Thornton and Tabacuks before a Saint Mary's (CA) attack error put Loyola Marymount University in front 5-4. After the set moved back and forth to 14-14,
Kayla Lopez served the Lions through four straight points, with Schuetz adding a kill, Santrac and Schuetz combining on a block and Lopez finishing the stretch with an ace for an 18-14 lead. Saint Mary's (CA) cut the margin to 18-16, but Schuetz and Tabacuks had kills as the Lions pushed back ahead 21-18. Santrac's kill made it 22-19, and Loyola Marymount University reached set point on a Tabacuks block and Tabacuks kill before a Saint Mary's (CA) service error closed the 25-20 set.
The Lions achieved a hitting percentage of .281 for the game, surpassing their season average of .230.
The Lions are 12-2 overall and 3-0 in West Coast Conference play. Saint Mary's (CA) is 7-8 overall and 2-1 in WCC play.
Up Next for Loyola Marymount University Women's Volleyball
Up next, the Lions volleyball team hosts Pacific on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. at Gersten Pavilion.
Women's Volleyball Tickets
Season tickets start at just $79
(Buy Now), and single-game tickets (
Buy Now) are on sale now for all home matches. LMU students and faculty/staff (plus up to three immediate family members) receive free admission with a valid OneCard. To request ticket information,
click here.
Group Tickets
Group tickets for 10 or more are available for all fall sports. To reserve your group,
click here, contact the LMU Ticket Office at 310-338-4537 or
favian.velasco@lmu.edu.
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