Aug. 13, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -

Following a 2007 campaign in which Loyola Marymount recorded its 18th consecutive winning season under Head Coach Steve Stratos and the Lions bid adieu to four-time All-West Coast Conference honoree Heather Hughes, LMU will look to return to the top of the competitive WCC en route to its first playoff appearance since 2005.

2007 Review
LMU finished the 2007 season with a 16-13 overall record and an 8-6 mark in the WCC, good for fourth-place in the conference, to record its 18th consecutive winning season.  The Lions played well to start the year despite losing two of its first three matches, earning an 8-5 record headed into conference play.  After posting a 5-6 mark over the first 11 conference matches, LMU rallied to win its final three conference showdowns en route to its highest winning percentage of the season at 16-11, five games over .500.  The three-match winning streak was the second of the season for LMU, earning victories over UC Irvine, Tulane and Columbia from September 4-8.  The Lion downfall proved to be matches against ranked opponents, as the crimson and navy dropped all six contests, including the final two matches of the season at No. 11 Hawai'i.  On the brighter side, LMU won its final four home matches of the year en route to a 9-4 record at Gersten Pavilion.  With the 9-4 mark, LMU has yet to record a sub-.500 home record under Stratos in each of his 18 years at the helm of the program.

For its work throughout the season, LMU was rewarded with various individual accolades.  Twice in 2007, the Lions were awarded WCC Player of the Week honors, as Hughes took home the honor on September 3, and Emily Day received the award on November 19.  Hughes also claimed Collegiate Volleyball Update's National Player of the Week recognition for the same week of play.  The selection was the first such honor for a Lion since Sarah Noriega (1994-97) was awarded the National Player of the Week distinction in 1997.

Hughes and Day both earned further WCC accolades, being named to the WCC All-Conference first team.  Freshman Renee Horton landed on the WCC All-Conference honorable mention team and the WCC All-Freshman team, where she was joined by fellow freshman Whitney Leonard.

Following what proved to be a record-setting four-year career at LMU, Hughes was named AVCA All-Region honorable mention, Collegiate Volleyball Update Stellar Spikers honorable mention, and LMU Female Athlete of the Year.  She also finished the 2007 campaign ranked 18th in the nation in kills per game after leading all players in that category from September 9 through November 4.

Head Coach Steve Stratos
Stratos completed his 18th season at the helm of the program with an 18th straight winning year.  In his tenure at LMU, Stratos has led the Lions to nine 20-win seasons and 11 postseason appearances.  He has posted a career record of 359-178, the most victories in LMU volleyball history and second-most among current WCC coaches.  His .669 winning percentage places him in the top-50 (46th) among active Division I coaches.  In conference play, he owns a record of 170-82, for a .675 winning percentage.  With 170 career conference victories, Stratos again ranks second among active coaches in the WCC.

Class of 2007
With the departure of seniors Hughes, Christianna Reneau, Jania Motton and Ashley Dutro, LMU will have some big shoes to fill this season.  Most notably, the Lions will be without the leadership of Hughes, a two-time captain for LMU.  Hughes had the best season of what proved to be a stellar four-year career in 2007, starting every game for the Lions and pacing the squad with 1,382 total attacks and 540 kills.  She finished first in the WCC in kills and points with 5.00 and 5.56 per game, respectively.  Reneau, who joined Hughes as a member of the 1,000 kill club on November 3 last year, also turned in an outstanding senior campaign.  The native of Corona, Calif. finished the year with 324 kills on 897 total attempts while recording 18 service aces and 366 digs.

With the departure of the seniors, the LMU record books have seen a few changes entering the 2008 campaign.  Hughes now finds herself among the top-10 in eight career-record categories.  She ranks tied for first in service aces (157), is second in kills (1,679), digs (1,261) and total attempts (4,435), fourth in games played (438) and kill average (3.83), seventh in service ace average (0.36) and ninth in dig average (2.88).  Reneau ranks fourth in dig average (3.50), fifth in digs (1,156), seventh in total attempts (2,943), and ninth in kills (1,100) and kill average (3.33).  Lastly, Dutro completed her two-year career at LMU with 1,150 assists, good for 10th in the record books.

The 2008 LMU Lions
This year, led by a group of experienced and talented returnees and a host of highly-touted newcomers, the Lions will try to improve upon a fourth-place finish in the WCC and return to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in six years.  LMU will rely heavily on senior and All-WCC selection Day to help guide the team to its 19th consecutive winning season.  Day, who finished among the conference leaders in points per game (fifth, 4.84), kills per game (sixth, 4.00), service aces per game (eighth, 0.34) and digs per game (11th, 3.21), highlights a veteran squad that also features seniors Lindsay Banas, Erin Downey and Lauren Kirk.  The team-leader in service aces (36), block solos (20), block assists (68) and total blocks (88) from last year, Day will also benefit from a trio of standout sophomores in Horton, Leonard and Becky Stehling.

Newcomers
Coach Stratos and his staff have put together a roster that includes a whopping eight new options in freshmen Alaina Bergsma, Emily Cheek, Ariana Covington, Lauren DeGrandmont, Diana Hiromoto, Jasmine Rankins, Christa Scholtz and Alesha Young.  

"We as a coaching staff and team are very excited about the 2008 recruiting class," Stratos said. "We feel that the group is potentially one of the finest recruiting classes we have ever had, and all eight girls are capable of having an impact early in their careers."

Bergsma, a 2007 Arizona High School All-American and member of the Arizona Juniors Club Team, was a four-year varsity letter winner for Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Ariz. and garnered All-League, All-Metro Region and All-State Tournament Team honors at the conclusion of her sophomore through senior seasons. The 6'3" outside hitter guided her team to the 2005 and 2007 Metro Region Championship and a runner-up finish in 2006.  In addition, her teams reached the State Quarterfinals in 2005 and the State Semifinals in her junior and senior campaigns.

Cheek was a member of the Austin Juniors Club Team and was a three-year varsity letter winner at Sequin High School in Sequin, Texas.  The 6'3" outside hitter was awarded All-League honors in each of the last three years, and led her team to the State Playoffs in 2005 and 2007.  Cheek was named to Prep Volleyball's 2008 "Senior Aces" list before garnering All-District first team honors and earning a spot on the Texas All-State Team following her senior campaign.

Covington, a member of the Epic Volleyball Club Team in San Diego, Calif., was a three-year varsity letter winner at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, Calif.  An All-League selection in each year of play, she was named League MVP after both her junior and senior campaigns.  In addition, Covington garnered All-Southern Section CIF honors in 2006 and 2007 and led her team to the Avocado League Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007.  The 5'11" outside hitter also guided her team to a 2007 CIF Southern Section Runner-Up finish and the CIF State Southern Section Semifinals that same year.
    
DeGrandmont, a member of the Portland Volleyball Club Team and a three-year varsity letter winner at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore., was a three-time All-League selection as a defensive specialist. She was awarded All-State Tournament honorable mention honors in 2006, and All-State Tournament first team accolades in 2007 after leading her squad to second-place finishes at the State Tournament in 2005 and 2006, and a third-place finish in 2007.  Following her senior season in 2007, DeGrandmont was named Mount Hood League Co-MVP.

Hiromoto, a 2007 All-State honorable mention selection, was a four-year varsity letter winner for Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Excelling at both the libero and outside hitter positions in high school and at the club level, Hiromoto was invited to train with the USA Volleyball High Performance Youth National A2 Team and at the USA Volleyball Holiday Camp in 2007.  As a freshman at Punahou, Hiromoto helped lead the Buff n' Blue to the Hawaii State Championship, followed by two more appearances in the Championship over the next three years.  At the club level, her teams have made appearances at the Junior Olympic Championships in three of the last five years.

Rankins was a four-year varsity letter winner at Vista High School in Vista, Calif.  The 6'0" outside hitter garnered All-Avocado League honors in 2005 and 2006 before earning an All-North San Diego County bid in 2006.  In addition, as a member of the Epic Volleyball Club Team, she helped guide her team to a fifth-place showing at the Junior Olympics in the 18's Open Division in 2007.

Scholtz, a 2007-08 AVCA Senior All-American, was a team captain for the Austin Juniors Club Team and three-year varsity letter winner at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas.  Selected to the USA Volleyball/Lone Star High Performance Team, Scholtz was also part of the USA Volleyball European Global Challenge team during the summer of 2007.  Serving as the Westlake team captain and MVP in 2007, she guided her team to the championship match at the Duncanville Tournament of Champions, garnering All-Tournament honors at that tournament and at the 2007 Pearland Volleyball Classic.

Young, a member of the Orange County Volleyball Club Team, was a four-year varsity letter winner at Newport Harbor High School in Costa Mesa, Calif.  The talented setter garnered All-Sunset League honors in 2006 and 2007 while being named League MVP in 2007.  Young led her team to the Sunset League Championship and the CIF Playoffs in all four years of high school play, with the squad reaching the CIF Semifinals in 2007.  In addition to her accomplishments in her league, she also earned an All-CIF Southern Section nod after her senior campaign, and was an integral part of the 2007 Volleyball Festival Club Volleyball Champions in the 18's Division.

The 2008 Lineup
The eight newcomers join a program that returns three starters plus the libero, losing senior starters in Hughes, Reneau and Motton.  Although the loss of all three players seems large, the Lions have always had depth at several positions, and this year is no exception.  A core of returnees anxious for their shot to lead the team to greatness, teamed with a handful of eager freshmen looking to showcase their talents at the next level, should result in competitive battles for starting positions and an exciting season in 2008.

    Outside Hitter
Considered the team's go-to player this year, Day returns to the outside hitter position this season.  Entering her senior campaign in 2008, Day already places eighth in kill average (3.36), and 10th in kills (1,037), total attempts (2,868) and dig average (2.77) in the LMU record books.  She managed to post 17 double-doubles on the season in 2007, good for fourth overall in the conference.  In addition, the Torrance, Calif. native notched a double-double in nine of the final 12 matches to close the year.  The WCC All-Conference and All-Academic selection is not alone in the hunt for swings from the outside.  A trio of freshmen in Bergsma, Covington and Rankins, along with junior Morgan Kelly, provide the coaching staff with strong options at the position.

    Opposite
In one of many battles to be won throughout the season at various positions in the starting lineup, senior Downey and sophomore Megan Nash will compete for time playing opposite the setter.  Last year, Downey played in 25 matches and 69 games en route to 85 kills on 244 attempts.  Nash, who did not play due to injury last season, is credited by her coaches with being one of the best all-around players on the team, and now that she is healthy, is expected to have a huge impact on the squad.  Freshmen Bergsma, Cheek and Rankins could also see time at the position this season.

    Setter
After starting all but one match, and playing in all 108 games for the Lions last year, sophomore Horton is primed to be LMU's starting setter for the second consecutive season in 2008.  With only one year under her belt, Horton already sits eighth all-time in assists with 1,318.  Named WCC All-Conference honorable mention and to the WCC All-Freshman team, she posted 11 double-doubles in 2007, claiming 12th overall in the WCC.  With Young providing depth and competing for time at the helm of the offense, the setter position looks to be a young but talented one for the Lions in 2008.

    Defensive Specialist/Libero
The Lions find themselves with an impressive amount of depth at the defensive specialist position this year.  The majority of the depth comes from underclassmen, with four of the five defensive specialists claiming freshman or sophomore standing. Leonard got the majority of the playing time last season at the position, appearing in 94 games and 25 matches.  She posted a team-high 426 digs at a rate of 4.53 digs-per-game en route to a WCC All-Freshman team selection.  Kirk, who is in her senior year, was the primary libero in 2006 and played in 29 matches and 101 games last season.  The native of Redondo Beach, Calif. tallied 90 digs and 10 service aces over her junior campaign.  Freshmen DeGrandmont, Hiromoto and Scholtz round-out the competition at the libero position.

    Middle Blocker
LMU has several veteran options at middle blocker this season.  Named 2007 LMU Female Newcomer of the Year, Stehling is expected to be a starter in the middle for the Lions.  Stehling collected 125 kills and connected at a team-best .322 clip, good for sixth overall in the WCC.  In addition, she hit .376 in conference matches alone, earning second overall in the WCC in those games.  The native of Austin, Texas recorded eight block solos and 64 block assists, good for 72 total blocks and 0.81 blocks per game.  She recorded three or more blocks on 12 occasions, including each of her last eight matches played in 2007.  If they are not playing opposite the setter, Downey and Nash will likely see time at middle blocker.  In addition to her offensive numbers last season, Downey recorded seven block solos and 39 block assists, good for 46 total blocks and 0.67 blocks per game on the defensive side of the net.  Stehling, Downey and Nash will likely be joined in the middle by Banas and Covington, in what should be a very deep position for the Lions in 2008.

2008 Schedule
Lion fans always see an impressive schedule for LMU volleyball, and this year is no exception.  The Lions will play eight matches against teams that qualified for last year's NCAA tournament, including two matches against all three WCC schools from the tournament, Pepperdine, San Diego and Santa Clara.

The Lions will play in four tournaments again this season, including the Four Points Sheraton LAX/LMU Volleyball Classic in Burns Recreational Center.  Although they will not be played in Gersten Pavilion, the three tournament matches will be considered a part of LMU's 15 home contests in 2008.  The Lions, who have not recorded a losing home record in all 18 years under Stratos, were 9-4 in the friendly confines of Gersten Pavilion last season.  LMU will also travel to the University of New Mexico, Middle Tennessee State and the University of Houston for tournaments against some of the nation's top teams.  The tournament setting has proved a lucrative one for the Lions recently, as LMU has collected an 11-1 record on neutral floors since the beginning of the 2005 season.

Among the tough non-conference competition that LMU will face in 2008 are Middle Tennessee State, Arizona, Ohio State and UC Santa Barbara.  LMU will compete in the Middle Tennessee State Tournament on September 5 and 6.  The tourney will feature host and 2007 Sweet-Sixteen participant Middle Tennessee State, 2007 NCAA Tournament participant Lipscomb University, and Appalachian State, in addition to the Lions.

LMU will return home for the first time in 2008 on September 10, taking on a tough Ohio State squad before hosting the only home tournament of the season on September 12 and 13. The Lions will welcome UC Irvine, San Jose State and Pittsburgh to LMU for the Four Points Sheraton LAX/LMU Volleyball Classic.

Following the tournament, the Lions will remain at home for one more match, clashing with Southern California rival, and perennial powerhouse, UC Santa Barbara on September 16.  Loyola Marymount will once again exit the state that same week for a tournament at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas, where they will face-off with the University of Houston, Arizona, and Stephen F. Austin State.  Arizona is a member of the Pacific-10 conference, widely considered one of the best Division I volleyball conferences in America.

In addition to the non-conference matches, the Lions will also have to contend with a tough schedule in the extremely competitive West Coast Conference.  For five straight seasons, at least three WCC programs have qualified for the NCAA tournament.  In 2008, LMU will look to be among that group as they begin their quest for a fifth WCC crown.

"As is the case every year, we have a tremendous non-conference schedule in which we play Ohio State, Arizona, Santa Barbara and others.  Our conference is one of the toughest in America, and we anticipate every match being a knock-down-drag-out fight," Stratos said.