Loyola Marymount rallies past SMU volleyball
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 1:28 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
SMU Drops Doubletree Classic Finale to LMU
DALLAS (SMU) – (RV) SMU Volleyball fell for just the second time this season, dropping a five-setter to Loyola Marymount (LMU) with set scores of 25-12, 25-20, 21-25, 16-25, and 10-15. After taking the first two sets, the Lions caught fire in the third set and turned that momentum into a five-set come from behind victory.
Individually, SMU was led by Maya Tabron who notched 21 kills, the most kills by a Mustang this season. Jamison Wheeler notched her first double-double of the season with 11 kills and 14 digs. Libero Ellie Bolton added 12 digs and six assists in the effort, while Setter Celia Cullen logged 39 assists, eight digs, and three blocks.
The Mustangs could not overcome a tough performance at the service line, as they accumulated a season-high 19 service aces Saturday afternoon.
MATCH NOTES:
LMU out dug the Mustangs 50-48 and out blocked SMU 15-11 Saturday.
SMU hit .245 in the loss with 60 kills, while LMU hit at a .231 percentage clip with 47 kills.
Freshman Natalia Newsome made her first career appearance against LMU and logged a solo block.
Nnedi Okammor finished the match with seven blocks, the third match this season Okammor has had seven or more rejections.
Natalie Foster added three more aces to her season total.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET ONE | SMU gain control of the opening set at the 4-4 mark as the Mustangs scored four-straight on kills from Okammor and Shime, followed by a block by the tandem and a service ace from Tabron, to go up four (8-4). Later, LMU worked back to within a two on a service error by the Mustangs to make the score 13-11, but SMU went on a massive 9-0 run to blow the opening set wide open. LMU stop the bleeding with a kill but, SMU was able to secure the next three points to start the match with a win handily 25-12. SMU hit .556 in the opening set and held LMU to a .043 clip. Tabron led the way with six early kills and 7.5 total points after one.
SET TWO | LMU started strong in the second frame, going up 5-3 early, but SMU answered, scoring six of the next seven points to gain a 9-6 advantage. Wheeler paced the Mustangs with three-straight kills, all assisted by Celia Cullen, during the run. The Lions fought to keep themselves in contention, but SMU closed out the second set strong, with four straight kills after LMU secure two points to get within one (21-20). The Mustangs saw production from several individuals but were led predominantly by Shime and Tabron who had four kills. Wheeler and Okammor added three kills in the second frame. Their 17 total kills was the most kills of any set by either team.
SET THREE | The momentum began to swing in the third set. After hitting .566 in the first and .367 in the second, SMU hit .154 in the third set with a match-high seven attack errors in the frame. As a result, LMU was able keep pace. The Lions made their move midway through the third set and then later took a 19-16 advantage. Another run a few points after, gave the Lions a 23-18 lead, which the Mustangs couldn't overcome. LMU went on to win the set 25-21 to fight off the sweep, something that the Mustangs had done to their previous three opponent.
SET FOUR | LMU carried their set three-win momentum into the fourth set, one in which they controlled from the jump. After a block by the Okammor and Tabron duo to open the fourth, LMU took the next five points. They expanded that lead to as much as 11 (19-9). SMU showed some fight late, but could only claw within seven, falling in set four 25-16 to force a deciding fifth set. SMU had only nine kills in the set and had five service error in back-to-back sets.
SET FIVE | The Lions held a narrow lead for the beginning portion of the best to 15 deciders. LMU expanded a one-point advantage to four with three straight points. SMU continued to show effort, fighting to limit the Lion's runs, but the Mustangs had no answer for a hot LMU team who finished the weekend 3-0. They closed the set earning four of the last five, to take down the Mustangs on their home floor with a set five score of 15-10.
SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Maya Tabron (21)
SMU Assist Leader: Celia Cullen (30)
SMU Digs Leader: Jamison Wheeler (14)
SMU Blocks Leader: Nnedi Okammor (7)
SMU Ace Leader: Natalie Foster (3)
UP NEXT:
SMU Volleyball will travel to Waco, Texas, for a matchup with #23 Baylor Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. CT.
SMU Drops Doubletree Classic Finale to LMU
DALLAS (SMU) – (RV) SMU Volleyball fell for just the second time this season, dropping a five-setter to Loyola Marymount (LMU) with set scores of 25-12, 25-20, 21-25, 16-25, and 10-15. After taking the first two sets, the Lions caught fire in the third set and turned that momentum into a five-set come from behind victory.
Individually, SMU was led by Maya Tabron who notched 21 kills, the most kills by a Mustang this season. Jamison Wheeler notched her first double-double of the season with 11 kills and 14 digs. Libero Ellie Bolton added 12 digs and six assists in the effort, while Setter Celia Cullen logged 39 assists, eight digs, and three blocks.
The Mustangs could not overcome a tough performance at the service line, as they accumulated a season-high 19 service aces Saturday afternoon.
MATCH NOTES:
LMU out dug the Mustangs 50-48 and out blocked SMU 15-11 Saturday.
SMU hit .245 in the loss with 60 kills, while LMU hit at a .231 percentage clip with 47 kills.
Freshman Natalia Newsome made her first career appearance against LMU and logged a solo block.
Nnedi Okammor finished the match with seven blocks, the third match this season Okammor has had seven or more rejections.
Natalie Foster added three more aces to her season total.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET ONE | SMU gain control of the opening set at the 4-4 mark as the Mustangs scored four-straight on kills from Okammor and Shime, followed by a block by the tandem and a service ace from Tabron, to go up four (8-4). Later, LMU worked back to within a two on a service error by the Mustangs to make the score 13-11, but SMU went on a massive 9-0 run to blow the opening set wide open. LMU stop the bleeding with a kill but, SMU was able to secure the next three points to start the match with a win handily 25-12. SMU hit .556 in the opening set and held LMU to a .043 clip. Tabron led the way with six early kills and 7.5 total points after one.
SET TWO | LMU started strong in the second frame, going up 5-3 early, but SMU answered, scoring six of the next seven points to gain a 9-6 advantage. Wheeler paced the Mustangs with three-straight kills, all assisted by Celia Cullen, during the run. The Lions fought to keep themselves in contention, but SMU closed out the second set strong, with four straight kills after LMU secure two points to get within one (21-20). The Mustangs saw production from several individuals but were led predominantly by Shime and Tabron who had four kills. Wheeler and Okammor added three kills in the second frame. Their 17 total kills was the most kills of any set by either team.
SET THREE | The momentum began to swing in the third set. After hitting .566 in the first and .367 in the second, SMU hit .154 in the third set with a match-high seven attack errors in the frame. As a result, LMU was able keep pace. The Lions made their move midway through the third set and then later took a 19-16 advantage. Another run a few points after, gave the Lions a 23-18 lead, which the Mustangs couldn't overcome. LMU went on to win the set 25-21 to fight off the sweep, something that the Mustangs had done to their previous three opponent.
SET FOUR | LMU carried their set three-win momentum into the fourth set, one in which they controlled from the jump. After a block by the Okammor and Tabron duo to open the fourth, LMU took the next five points. They expanded that lead to as much as 11 (19-9). SMU showed some fight late, but could only claw within seven, falling in set four 25-16 to force a deciding fifth set. SMU had only nine kills in the set and had five service error in back-to-back sets.
SET FIVE | The Lions held a narrow lead for the beginning portion of the best to 15 deciders. LMU expanded a one-point advantage to four with three straight points. SMU continued to show effort, fighting to limit the Lion's runs, but the Mustangs had no answer for a hot LMU team who finished the weekend 3-0. They closed the set earning four of the last five, to take down the Mustangs on their home floor with a set five score of 15-10.
SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Maya Tabron (21)
SMU Assist Leader: Celia Cullen (30)
SMU Digs Leader: Jamison Wheeler (14)
SMU Blocks Leader: Nnedi Okammor (7)
SMU Ace Leader: Natalie Foster (3)
UP NEXT:
SMU Volleyball will travel to Waco, Texas, for a matchup with #23 Baylor Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. CT.