THE BASICS:

Score: Holy Cross 3, Loyola (Md.) 0 (26-24, 29-27, 25-23)

Records: Holy Cross (6-19, 3-9 Patriot League); Loyola (Md.) (6-21, 1-11 Patriot League)


Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center)


Date: October 31, 2015


Time: 6:05 p.m.


The Lead: Juniors Mandy Sifferlen (Sudbury, Mass.) and Katie McKernan (Sylvania, Ohio) each had a double-double as the Holy Cross volleyball team defeated Loyola (Md.), 3-0, on Saturday evening on Senior Night in the Crusaders' final home match of the year.

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Sifferlen earned a double-double with 13 kills and a team-best 15 digs. Additionally, McKernan picked up a double-double with 11 assists and 10 digs.
• Junior Natalie Welsch (Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the Crusaders with her season-best 14 kills. She posted an outstanding .560 hitting percentage.
• Freshman Caroline Wells (Greensboro, N.C.) led Holy Cross with 17 assists.
• Molly Werts had a double-double for Loyola, leading her side in assists with 16 and digs with 13. Stacey Kazalas led the Greyhounds in kills with 13.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Sifferlen's double-double was her eighth this season and the 18th of her career.
• McKernan's double-double was her fifth of the season and 25th of her career.
• Sifferlen now has 355 kills this season, which are sixth all-time in school history. Her 3.90 kills per set are sixth all-time for a season.
• Sophomore Mary Mullen (Mendota Heights, Minn.) has 80 blocks this season, which are eighth all-time in the program's history. Her 0.95 blocks per set are fourth all-time.
• Magner's 4.10 digs per set this season are fourth all-time in school history.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• With the Crusaders leading the first set, 23-19, the Greyhounds then won five straight points to take a 24-23 lead. But a kill by freshman Jenna Price (Colorado Springs, Colo.) tied the set at 24-24. Then kills by Welsch and Mullen clinched the 26-24 win. Sifferlen and Welsch each tallied five kills. 
• Neck and neck in the second set, the Greyhounds took a 20-19 lead. Holy Cross battled back, making the score 24-24. After a series of rallies resulting in lead exchanges between the two teams, the Crusaders took the set, 29-27. Welsch and Sifferlen each posted four kills. 
• Down by three in the third set at 20-17, the Crusaders scored three straight points to tie the set at 20-20. Now with the score tied at 23-23, the Crusaders took the next two points to earn a 25-23 match-clinching victory.

SENIOR NIGHT

• Before tonight's match, senior Emily Oliver (Carlsbad, Calif.) was recognized for her hard work and dedication to the program on and off the court.
• Oliver has appeared in 95 matches in her career, and has posted 588 career kills.
• She has ranked in the top four on the team in kills per set all four seasons.
• Oliver has been a member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy for three years, and this year has served as a 360 leader with the program. She has also earned Patriot League Academic Honor Roll accolades every year.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return to action on Friday, Nov. 6, when they travel to Easton, Pa. to face Lafayette at 7:00 p.m.

KEEP CONNECTED:

• There are numerous ways to stay connected with the Holy Cross volleyball team. Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @HCrossVB, on Facebook and on Instagram. You can also get the latest news and results on the team sent directly to your e-mail. To sign up for e-mail alerts go here.