LOS ANGELES — LMU swept Denver 3-0 on Thursday at Gersten Pavilion, winning 25-18, 25-17, 25-16. The Lions finished with a .344 hitting percentage, 42 kills and six aces, while Denver hit .102.
The Lions moved from a 4-2 edge to 8-2 in the opening set on Maria Tabacuks’ serve, with Camille Pomeroy contributing a kill and teaming on blocks with Ayanna Henry and Nicole Schuetz during the stretch. After Denver closed within 11-7, the Lions put together a six-point run that included two Gabriella Cascione aces, a Pomeroy kill and a Pomeroy-Delfina Schuh block before Schuh’s block made it 18-8. Denver answered with three straight points to get to 18-11 and later used a Hailey Goebel ace and two Lions errors to reach 23-18, but Tabacuks finished the set with consecutive kills from Schuh assists for a 25-18 Lions win.
The Lions got early kills from Tabacuks, Zaria Thornton and Schuetz to stay in front through 10-7, with Schuetz adding a service ace and Tabacuks finishing a set from Thornton. Denver pulled even at 11-11 on consecutive kills by Jamia Johnson and tied it again at 13-13 on a kill by Elise Hart. The Lions answered the 13-13 tie with four straight points, getting kills from Schuetz and Henry around two Denver attack errors to move ahead 17-13. After Denver got within 20-16, Henry’s kill, a Denver attack error and Thornton’s kill pushed the margin to 23-16, and the Lions closed the set 25-17 on a Schuh kill and Tabacuks’ final point.
The third set stayed even through 10-10 before the Lions moved in front on a Pomeroy-Schuetz block and a Denver attack error. After Denver pulled within 12-11, Schuetz put Loyola Marymount University back on serve, and Melania Katsitadze served through five straight points, including two aces, a Thornton-Henry block and another Schuetz kill, to push the lead to 18-11. Denver got back-to-back points to make it 18-13, but Tabacuks stopped the stretch with a kill and later added consecutive kills for a 23-14 lead. Tabacuks delivered two more late kills, including the final point from Kayla Lopez, as the Lions closed the set 25-16.
Tabacuks led the Lions with 16 kills and 16.0 points while hitting .389 and adding six digs. Schuh finished with 30 assists, 11 digs and two blocks. Cascione collected 12 digs, three assists and two service aces. Schuetz added eight kills, seven digs, two aces and two block assists.
The Lions improve to 22-3 overall and 13-1 in WCC play. Denver is 12-13 overall and 5-8 in WCC play.
Up next, the Lions volleyball team hosts San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. at Gersten Pavilion.
