Loyola Marymount University Athletics

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — LMU defeated Santa Clara 3-1 (25-14, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19) on Saturday. The Lions hit .262 with 53 kills and 13 total blocks, while Santa Clara finished at .135 with 47 kills. The Lions totaled 13 blocks in the game, surpassing their season average of 8.42.

Maria Tabacuks led the LMU attack with a team-high 15 kills while totaling a team-high 16.0 points and adding eight digs. Tabacuks has now recorded at least 15 kills in four consecutive matches. Delfina Schuh directed the Lions offensively with 36 assists while also contributing nine digs, seven kills on a .438 hitting percentage and two blocks. Gabriella Cascione anchored the LMU defense with a team-high 18 digs while adding two assists. Zaria Thornton controlled the net with a team-high nine blocks while adding five kills and 10.0 points. Anya Santrac delivered a balanced performance with 10 kills, 11 digs and three blocks while totaling 12.5 points, marking her second consecutive match with at least 10 kills. Nicole Schuetz continued her consistent scoring stretch, recording at least 12.5 points for the third straight match.

After the teams traded points to 3-3 in the opening set, the Lions won seven of the next eight rallies to move ahead 10-4, getting three kills from Anya Santrac, a kill and a block from Aleksandra Stojanovic, and a Nicole Schuetz ace. Stojanovic achieved a season-high hitting percentage of 0.6. Santa Clara got kills from Morgan Hayes, Cate Shanahan and Grace Flanagan through the middle of the set, but Loyola Marymount University led 17-11 after Maria Tabacuks added two kills in the stretch and Schuetz put down a kill. After Shanahan's kill brought Santa Clara within 17-12, the Lions won seven of the next eight rallies, using kills by Santrac and Tabacuks and a Zaria Thornton block to reach set point at 24-13. Santa Clara fought off set point with a block, but Delfina Schuh closed the set with a kill from Tabacuks for a 25-14 Lions win.

After Santa Clara went ahead 4-1, the Lions pulled even at 4-4 with help from blocks involving Thornton, Tabacuks and Schuetz before a Tabacuks kill tied the set. Santa Clara moved back in front 7-6, but the Lions scored four straight points, including another Tabacuks kill and a Stojanovic block, to take a 10-7 lead. Santa Clara answered to tie the set at 11-11 and 12-12, then went ahead 15-14 on a Tia Kapihe service ace before Loyola Marymount University leveled it at 15-15 on a service error. Santa Clara pushed back in front, and after Santrac's kill brought the Lions within 18-17, the home team scored four of the next five points and later closed the set 25-20 on a service error.

The Lions moved in front 3-0 in the third set on kills by Schuh, Thornton and Tabacuks before Santa Clara pulled even at 4-4. After the tie, Loyola Marymount University won seven of the next eight rallies to go ahead 11-5, with Schuetz involved in two kills and Kayla Lopez serving four straight points that included an ace, a block by Stojanovic and Santrac, and kills by Tabacuks and Schuetz. Santa Clara got back within five at 12-7 and 14-9, but the Lions kept answering with sideouts and later stretched the lead to 23-13 on a Tabacuks kill and Santrac ace. Santa Clara scored the next three points, but an attack error gave the Lions set point and Schuetz finished the set with a kill for a 25-16 win.

Gabriella Cascione served the Lions to a 4-0 start in the fourth set, with Thornton putting down two kills from Schuh and teaming with Schuh on two blocks during the opening stretch. Thornton achieved both a career-high and a season-high total of 9 blocks. Santa Clara kept the set within reach and cut the margin to 13-11 on a Grace Flanagan kill, but a service error and Santrac's kill from Thornton pushed Loyola Marymount University back ahead 15-11. After Santa Clara got within 17-14, Santrac, Stojanovic and Tabacuks delivered three straight Lions points to make it 20-14. Santa Clara pulled within 22-18 before Schuetz's block moved the Lions to 23-18, and after a Santa Clara point, a service error and an attack error finished the 25-19 set for the Lions.

The Lions are 11-2 overall and 2-0 in West Coast Conference play. Santa Clara is 4-10 overall and 0-2 in WCC play.

Up Next for LMU Women's Volleyball

Up next, the Lions volleyball team hosts Saint Mary's on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6 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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