LMU Eliminates Four-Time Defending National Champs USC, Advance to Semifinal Saturday Afternoon

GULF SHORES, Ala. – LMU Beach Volleyball earned its second all-time win over USC on Saturday morning in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The #4 Lions eliminated the four-time defending champions, #5 USC, 3-1.
 
LMU won the first set on all five courts against the Trojans putting the Lions in position to take the dual with just one more set win on three of the five courts.
 
Abbey Thorup and Lisa Luini gave LMU their first dual point, winning 21-17, 21-18 on Court 3.
 
Moments later, the Lions took a second dual point at the fives court as Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales defeated the Trojans, 22-20, 21-16, after battling back in the first set.
 
The dual was clinched by Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia with a score of 21-13, 14-21, 15-7.
 
The Lions were 0-36 all-time against USC prior to this season but took two out of three duals from the Trojans in 2025. USC eliminated LMU in each of the last two season in Gulf Shores.
 
The turnaround will be quick as LMU is set to face top-seeded UCLA Saturday afternoon at 12 PM CT / 10 AM PT on ESPN2. The Lions and Bruins played three times this season, with all three going five sets. UCLA won in Honolulu and San Luis Obispo, and LMU won in Laguna Beach.
 
Official Beach Volleyball Results (Final)
#4 Loyola Marymount (37-6) vs #5 USC (27-11)
05/03/2025 at Gulf Shores, Ala. — The Hangout
Match Score: Loyola Marymount 3, USC 1
 

1. Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia (LMU) def. Madison White and Zoey Henson (USC): 21-13, 14-21, 15-7
2. Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti (LMU) vs. Ashley Pater and Kennedy Coakley (USC): match was unfinished; 21-19, 12-21, 7-2
3. Abbey Thorup and Lisa Luini (LMU) def. Mabyn Thomas and Maya Gessner (USC): 21-17, 21-18
4. Delaney Karl and Ella Larkin (USC) def. Isabelle Reffel and Magdalena Rabitsch (LMU): 15-21, 21-14, 15-9
5. Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales (LMU) def. Madison Goellner and Kaileigh Truslow (USC): 22-20, 21-16

 
MATCH NOTES
Order of finish: 3, 5, 4, 1
Start Time: 9:17 AM
Duration: 57
 
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