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Lions Release 2009 Schedule
July 1, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
Head Coach Steve Stratos, who enters his 20th season at the helm of the Lion volleyball program, recently unveiled his 2009 volleyball schedule, a list that includes 12 matches against 2008 NCAA Tournament qualifiers. Establishing itself as one of the strongest volleyball conferences in the country, of the seven teams on the docket that made the trip to the postseason last year, five came from the West Coast Conference, the most since it sent a conference-record six teams in 2003. Last year's total also marked the highest percentage of teams from any conference in the country to make it to the tournament. In addition, the five teams last year marked the 12th year in a row that the WCC had sent at least three teams to the playoffs. The Lions will kick-off the season with its annual alumnae match on August 22 in Gersten Pavilion. From there, LMU will start the regular season, traveling to Fort Worth, Texas to compete against Grambling State, Arkansas and host Texas Christian University at the TCU Tournament from August 28-29. Tournament play continues for the Lions from September 4-5 as they once again hit the road, this time heading to Las Vegas, Nev. for the UNLV Tournament, featuring matches against Idaho, UNLV and UCLA, which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen just a year ago. After six tournament matches on the road, LMU will host its first and only regular-season tournament from September 11-12, the Crowne Plaza LAX Tournament. Houston, Boise State and UC Irvine will all travel to Los Angeles to battle with the Lions in Gersten Pavilion. At the conclusion of the home tournament, LMU will welcome Cal State Northridge on September 15 before once again hitting the road for its final regular-season tournament. The University of Pacific will hold its tournament from September 18-19, where LMU will match-up against Nevada, Cal State Bakersfield and the Tigers.
Following a non-conference showdown between the Lions and UC Santa Barbara on September 22, LMU will open WCC play at home against San Diego (October 1) and Saint Mary’s (October 3), two teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. Portland and Gonzaga host the Lions on October 8 and 10, respectively, before LMU once again squares-off against a NCAA participant in cross-town rival Pepperdine on the road on October 17. The battles do not get any easier for the crimson and navy from there, as they host another pair of NCAA qualifiers in Santa Clara (October 22) and San Francisco (October 24). Santa Clara was the only WCC team to advance to the second round of the playoffs a year ago. The Lions close the season with another challenge, traveling to Long Beach, Calif. to face the 49ers on November 28. Long Beach State not only made the 2008 NCAA Tournament, but advanced to the second round before falling to Stanford, the runner-up for the National Championship. For the complete 2009 schedule, please click here. |
