Loyola Marymount Falls to 15th-Rated Pepperdine

The Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team put up a good fight before losing to 15th-ranked Pepperdine, 15-12, 15-13, 15-2, in a West Coast Conference match at Loyola Saturday night.

Loyola, the WCC’s second-place team, fell to 13-10 overall and 5-4 in conference play. Pepperdine, with an 11-game winning streak, remains atop to WCC at 9-0. It is 17-4 overall.

Since 1982, the Waves are 17-3 against Loyola. In that span, Pepperdine Coach Nina Matthies is 85-4 in WCC play. She has led Pepperdine to the NCAA playoffs six of her eight years, including the past five seasons.

The last time Loyola defeated Pepperdine was in 1986. That year, the Lions won the WCC title under Coach Nancy Fortner and defeated UCLA in the first round of the regional playoffs.

“It’s going to take a long time to develop a program like (Matthies) has,” said Loyola second-year Coach Steve Stratos, the school’s first full-time volleyball coach. “We’re very good friends and she’s an example I want to follow.”

The Lions came close to winning the first game after Deanna Doolittle’s ace tied the score, 11-11. But Pepperdine’s powerful hitting and blocking were unstoppable. The Waves were led by outside hitter Blair Noonan, who had 15 kills.

The Lions also had an opportunity to win the second game. They tied the score, 9-9, and held a 12-10 lead when former West Torrance standout Carolyn Hueth served four consecutive points to give Pepperdine a 14-12 lead. Noonan then scored the winning point.

“They’re older than we are and they’re used to winning,” Stratos said. “They got their scare in the first two games.”

Pepperdine was dominate in the third game to win the match.

The Lions were led by Joli Eberhart (12 kills, six digs) and Doolittle (11 kills, 17 digs). Freshman setter Robin Ortgiesen had a match-high 37 set assists.

“They didn’t surprise me at all,” Matthies said. “I know they’re a good, scrappy team. I always come in here expecting a battle. This is a great, friendly rivalry.”

Last week Pepperdine dominated the Lions, 15-5, 15-5, 15-10, in Malibu. Stratos said despite the disappointment of losing, he is proud of his team.

“I thought the major change from this match to last week’s match was our middle,” he said. “We played much better in the middle and we played as well defensively as we have all year.’