Nov. 9, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Freshman Alaina Bergsma was named WCC Co-Player of the Week, it was announced by the conference office Monday. Bergsma, a native of Chandler, Ariz., guided LMU to a 2-0 record at home last week, including a three-set sweep of the University of Portland on Saturday afternoon. The Lions earned a five-set victory over Gonzaga on Thursday night before sweeping the Pilots in the weekend affair. Bergsma, who was also listed on CVU.com's National Top Performers list for the second time this season, shares the accolade with San Francisco's Haley Carroll. The WCC selection is the first for Bergsma in her career, and is the first for the Lions this season.  She earned a spot on CVU.com's National Top Performers list earlier this year on September 1.

Bergsma collected 60 kills over the two matches played, averaging 7.50 kills per set and hitting .368 with only 17 errors in 117 attacks. Not only a threat on the attack, she also served-up three aces, posted one block solo, a block assist, 29 digs and five assists. The 6'3 outside hitter collected a double-double in both matches last week, running her total to 10 double-doubles on the season to match teammate Alesha Young for most in the West Coast Conference. She also totaled 64.5 points (8.06 per set) over the eight sets played, while averaging .38 aces per set and 3.62 digs per set.

Bergsma notched a career-high 32 kills against Gonzaga on Thursday, five short of the LMU record for a freshman in a single match set by Amy Moeller on October 16, 1992 versus San Francisco. She hit .268 (32-13/71) over the course of the five sets, teaming the kills with two service aces, 17 digs and a block solo for a double-double.

On Saturday against Portland, Bergsma had 28 kills and hit a blistering .522 (28-4/46) to lead LMU to the sweep of the Pilots. She teamed that mark with five assists, a service ace, one block assist and 12 digs for another double-double.

Over the course of the season, Bergsma has collected at least 10 kills in all but two of her matches, and currently leads the Lions in kills (404/4.54 per set), service aces (36/.40 per set), block solos (16) and points (473/5.31 per set).

The Lions return to action on Friday as they host cross-town rival Pepperdine at 7 p.m. in Gersten Pavilion. The winner of that match will receive points for its school in the PCH Cup standings. To read more about the PCH Cup, please visit http://www.lmulions.com/trads/PCH-Cup.html.

- GO LIONS -