LOS ANGELES – Despite multiple back-and-forth sets, Saint Mary's found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-0 score on Thursday night as the Gaels dropped their first match of the weekend to Loyola Marymount.

HOW IT HAPPENED

 • SET ONE | The Gaels and Lions traded points back-and-forth to open the first set as the match remained tied as late as 14-14. The Lions gained a 3-point edge with a 21-18 lead and they eventually took the set 25-19 to gain an early, 1-0 advantage.   
 
• SET TWO | Saint Mary's went ahead early in the second set, quickly gaining a 5-2 lead. The Gaels maintained their 3-point advantage as SMC eventually led LMU 9-6. However, the Lions surged from behind to tie the set at 13 points apiece. Then, LMU went on a 9-2 run to pull ahead 21-15. With the score at 23-17 Lions, Saint Mary's went on a 3-point run of their own to pull within 3 points (23-20). Loyola Marymount then responded with two unanswered points to take the set 25-20.
 
• SET THREE | It was the Lions who gained the early edge, leading 7-5 after 12 points had been played. However, the Gaels came from behind and took their first lead of the set, 11-10. Nonetheless, LMU responded with seven-straight points to regain a 6-point lead (17-11). The Lions went on to score eight out of the next 16 points to win 25-19.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 
• Junior Alexsa "Crash" Parker was the only Gael to record a double-double on Thursday night, collecting 21 assists and 11 digs.
 
• Junior Sienna Young led the SMC offense with a team-leading, 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT
 
After suffering just their second 3-0 loss of the season, Saint Mary's falls to 11-4 on the year and 3-2 in conference-play. The Gaels will now head to Malibu, Calif. where they will take on Pepperdine on Saturday, October 6 at Noon.  

#GaelsRise – For ticket information to all home volleyball matches, call the SMC Ticket Office today at 925-631-4689 or click the ticket link here to purchase your seats now.