Loyola Marymount Volleyball Team Plays Two Matches in Long Beach

The Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team, which lost to 18th-ranked USC on Wednesday, will play two nationally ranked teams today and Saturday in Long Beach.

The Lions (3-2) play Cal State Long Beach at 7:30 tonight and New Mexico at 1 p.m. Saturday. Long Beach, which will be playing its season opener, is ranked No. 6 and New Mexico (1-0) is No. 10.

Loyola Marymount struggled in its loss to USC, falling in three games, 15-6, 15-13 and 15-11. But the Lions had a strong effort from sophomore outside hitter Deanna Doolittle, who had 10 kills. She is second on the team with 45 kills and 38 digs.

The Lions expect to start senior Lisa Wenker and junior Joli Eberhart at outside hitter, senior Stacy Trapp and junior Dana Bragado at middle blocker and freshman Robin Ortgiesen at setter this weekend.

Eberhart was named to the all-tournament team last week at the Washington State tournament in Pullman, where the Lions won three of four matches and finished second.

Eberhart had 49 digs, 38 kills and a .333 kill percentage in the tournament. She leads Loyola with 46 kills and 57 digs and also has a .287 kill percentage.

Ortgiesen, who was the Ocean League Most Valuable Player and All-Southern Section selection at Mira Costa High last year, has a kill percentage of .348.

Trapp, who has 246 blocks, needs only three more to become the school’s all-time leader.

The Greater Los Angeles Soccer League starts its 1991 season with two Friendship Cup tournament games on Sunday at Daniels Field in San Pedro.

Defending champion Inter Los Angeles will meet Sport Peru of San Pedro at 1 p.m., and Inter America will play Los Angeles Cosmos at 3 p.m.

Tournament games will be played every Sunday. The title match is scheduled for Oct. 13.