TCU
Loyola Marymount
Frogs Falter In 3-1 Loss To Loyola Marymount
8/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - Despite a strong blocking game, the TCU Horned Frogs couldn't overcome a .196 hitting percentage as they dropped the tournament championship game 1-3 (18-25, 25-23, 25-16, 16-25) to Loyola Marymount. Megan Munce tallied her second double-double (32 assists/16 digs) of the season and Irene Hester paced the team with 14 kills.Kristen Hester racked up a match-high seven blocks and served up two aces. Kourtney Edwards was the only other Frog to reach double digits in kills, finishing with 11 while also picking up six blocks. Lauren Otto tallied 11 digs, while Christy Hudson and Katelyn Blackwood each finished with 10.
The Lions stormed out to an early 9-3 lead and rode it all the way to a 25-18 victory in the first set. The deficit stayed the same before a 10-7 run by the Frogs helped them creep back within three, 16-13. Lauren Otto pitched in with three kills along the way and Kristen Hester and Munce tallied a denial to spur the Frog rally.
Loyola Marymount withstood the rally and went on a 7-4 run of its own to steal the momentum. A service error by the Frogs sealed the Lions victory.
A strong effort in the second set by the Frogs fell just short and the Lions scraped out a 25-23 victory to take a commanding 2-0 match lead. Again, TCU found themselves in a hole, but were able to battled back to tie the game at 17. Hudson and Edwards provided the spark with a block, while Blackwood and Otto served up a couple of aces.
But a 4-0 run by the Lions put them in control at 21-17. Blackwood served the Frogs to a 3-0 run, but a kill from Becky Stehling halted the frogs run. TCU crept back within one at 24-23, but an Alaina Bergsma kill gave the Lions the victory.
Out of the intermission, the Frogs came out on a mission. They stormed out to a 14-4 lead helped along by a strong serving game from Blackwood and Kristen Hester. Irene and Kristen Hester provided a loud block in the middle to go along with a couple of kills.
A 10-4 run by the Lions got them back in the game at 19-14, but a service error restored the six-point lead for the Frogs. The Hester sisters teamed up for their second block of the match to force a fourth set with a 25-16 victory.
The Lions rebounded from the victory and took control of the fourth set early and never looked back as they picked up a 25-16 win to lock up the tournament championship. TCU tied the game at eight on Kristen Hester/Hudson block, but a Bergsma kill put the Lions back on top to stay.
Kristen Hester and Kourtney Edwards were named to the all-tournament team.
The Frogs fall to 2-1 on the season. They return to action on Tuesday night against Baylor. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the University Rec Center.
