Nov. 5, 2005
Box Score
Los Angeles, CA - The Saint Mary's women's volleyball team dropped their second straight match on Saturday night, this time against Loyola Marymount, 3-1 in Los Angeles. For the second straight night the Gaels played their opponent tough and to the final point, but falling short both times.
Against the Lions, the Gaels battled to a 24-30, 39-37, 29-31, 38-40 loss, played three of the four games over the 30-point mark. With the loss the Gaels fall to 15-7 overall and 6-4 in West Coast Conference play. Loyola Marymount improved to 18-7 overall and 6-5 in WCC action.
Overall the Gaels were led by Cassandra Kolkka, who had 15 kills with a .306 hitting percentage and 13 digs. Missie Stidham had a team-high 19 kills with 19 digs and eight blocks.
Christina Kirk had 11 kills and 13 blocks, Kaui Salzman had 13 kills, Brittany Barker had seven kills and eight blocks and Mandy Bible had 54 assists, 13 digs and six blocks.
The Gaels trailed the Lions for most of the first game, but cut it to 23-21 late, until Loyola Marymount finished the game strong for a 30-26 win. Stidham, Salzman and Kolkka each recorded four kills in the game and Bible had 11 assists.
In the second game, the Gaels fell behind early, but rallied midway through the game to take an 18-17 lead. But the game got really exciting when Loyola Marymount took a 30-29 lead and both teams went back-and-forth before the Gaels won 39-37 to tie the match at 1-1. Stidham, Salzman and Kolkka once again led the Gaels' balanced attack with six kills each in the game. Bible had 18 assists and Kirk had three kills.
In Game 3, the Gaels and Lions went back-and-forth for most of the game, until the game was tied 29-29. Loyola Marymount went on to win the final two points of the game to win 31-29. Kolkka led the Gaels with five kills in the game and Kirk had two kills and five blocks.
Game four was just as thrilling, as both teams played back-and-forth, playing in the Gaels' longest game of the year, with Saint Mary's finally falling 40-38.
Saint Mary's returns to action on Friday, November 11 when it hosts Gonzaga at 7:05 p.m. at McKeon Pavilion.
