IRVINE, Calif. – The LMU women's volleyball team showed its resilience Friday night, erasing a two-set deficit to defeat UC Irvine, 3-2, at the Bren Events Center. After dropping the opening two sets, the Lions rallied to win the next three, 25-22, 25-19, and 15-8, improving to 6-1 on the season.
Nicole Schuetz led LMU with 15 kills, 12 digs, and three service aces, while Delfina Schuh finished with 30 assists, 10 digs, and two aces. Aleksandra Stojanovic hit .571 with eight kills and five blocks, and Zaria Thornton added seven kills and seven total blocks.
Set 1
The Lions and Anteaters battled through a tightly contested opening set, with LMU taking a 14-12 lead following a service ace from Maria Tabacuks. UC Irvine answered with an eight-point run to take control late, turning a one-point deficit into a 23-16 advantage. LMU scored two of the next three points, but the Anteaters closed out the frame, 25-18.
Set 2
UC Irvine carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and holding the Lions at bay throughout the frame. LMU pulled within three at 9-6 following a block by Thornton and Tabacuks, but the Anteaters responded with a decisive seven-point run later in the set. UC Irvine secured the 25-13 victory to move ahead 2-0 in the match.
Set 3
Facing a sweep, the Lions responded with their best volleyball of the night. The set remained close throughout before UC Irvine used four consecutive points to take an 18-17 lead. LMU quickly answered as a block by Schuh and Thornton tied the score before Schuh served four straight points, including an ace, to put the Lions ahead 22-18. Thornton earned set point with a kill, and Stojanovic closed the frame with a block as LMU claimed the set, 25-22.
Set 4
LMU continued to build momentum in the fourth. After trailing 5-2 early, the Lions battled back behind strong play from Stojanovic and Schuetz. An ace from Schuetz tied the score at 6-6, and LMU later used a run featuring a Schuh kill, a Kayla Lopez ace, and a UC Irvine attack error to take a 12-9 advantage. The Anteaters pulled even at 13-13, but the Lions regained control and stretched their lead to four points before a Thornton and Schuetz block sealed a 25-19 victory and forced a fifth set.
Set 5
The Lions wasted little time taking control of the deciding set, using kills from Schuetz, Tabacuks, and Thornton to establish an early lead. UC Irvine rallied to tie the score at 6-6, but LMU responded with a pivotal run to go back in front. Schuetz delivered a kill for an 11-8 advantage before serving the final four points of the match, including an ace. Stojanovic and Ayanna Henry teamed up for the match-clinching block as the Lions completed the reverse sweep with a 15-8 victory.
Schuh finished with 30 assists, 10 digs and two service aces. Schuetz posted 15 kills, 12 digs, three aces and a team-high 19.0 points. Stojanovic recorded eight kills on .571 hitting and added five blocks, while Thornton totaled seven kills, seven blocks and 11.0 points.
The Lions are 6-1 overall. UC Irvine is 1-6 overall.
Up next, the Lions volleyball team faces Brown on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. in Long Beach, Calif.
