Loyola Women Defeat Pepperdine in Five Games

The Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team has never swept a season series from rival Pepperdine. Until Saturday night, that is.

The Lions beat the Waves, 13-15, 15-11, 5-15, 15-5, 15-12, in a West Coach Conference match at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

The victory improved Loyola’s record to 20-6, the third time in four seasons under Coach Steve Stratos that the Lions have reached the 20-win plateau. Loyola is 8-2 in the WCC. Pepperdine is 7-14 and 4-6.

“It’s pretty exciting to beat (Pepperdine),” junior setter Robin Ortgiesen said. “Hopefully, it proves that our program is picking up and we’re going to get better from here.”

Pepperdine appeared to be in control after a 15-5 win in the third game and 2-1 lead in the match.

The Lions regained momentum with a 15-5 win in the fourth game.

“The girls just worked real hard to get to that point,” Stratos said. “When they got to the fifth game, they just refused to lose.”

Loyola led most of the way in the fifth game and went ahead to stay at 9-8 when Pepperdine hit a return out of bounds.

Leading, 14-12, the Lions won the match on a kill by reserve outside hitter Amy Moeller.

It was a frustrating loss for Pepperdine, which has lost in five games seven times.

“It’s just been a really tough season for us,” Pepperdine Coach Nina Matthies said. “We can play with anyone in the country, but we’re just not beating them.”

Freshmen Suzanne Radcliffe and Kim Blankinship, two former Torrance High standouts, led the Lions. Radcliffe had 14 kills and 11 digs and Blankinship 12 kills and 12 digs.

Outside hitter Kathleen Bunce, another freshman, had 19 digs and eight kills.