WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Patriot League opponent Army West Point Saturday afternoon during a Cousy Cup matchup.

With the defeat, Holy Cross skids to 2-14, 0-5 PL while Army improves to 9-7, 5-1 PL.
 
SET SCORES:

• Black Knights 3, Crusaders 1 (25-21, 17-25, 12-25, 17-25)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders trailed 7-4 in the first set until a senior Gracyn Benck kill combined with a Black Knight ball handing error gave Holy Cross the 10-9 edge. Trailing by four following a sophomore Abbie Lane kill, Army tied the set 18-18 via an ace. Freshman Rachel Johnson blocked an attack attempt at the pin for the 22-20 Crusader lead. Sophomore Rian Millership capped off the first set win with back-to-back kills.
• Army responded by gaining an early 9-0 lead in the second set. Two straight Johnson aces put the Crusaders down six, 13-7. Sophomore Lauren Halverson earned two aces for Holy Cross bringing the margin to four, 19-15. The Black Knights won the set 25-17 to tie the match.
• A dual block by Allanah Cutler and Alyssa Lukasik exploded the score in favor of the guests at 9-1 in the third set. The lead upped to 15, 23-8 late until a Crusader attack error put the Black Knights on the brink of victory.
• Holy Cross leveled the fourth set 5-5 after an Army service error. Ahead 11-9, the Black Knights pushed in front 17-9 due to five consecutive markers. Holding a seven point advantage, Holy Cross clawed their way back with four straight producing kills by Johnson and Benck to come within three, 20-17. Army tallied the final five points for the match victory.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Army out blocked the Crusaders 11-to-4 in the match.
• Alyssa Lukasik hit .565 with a match-best 14 kills in the contest.
• Mia Hofacker was the Crusader leader in kills (8) and hitting percentage (.438). It was her fourth match of the season that she hit .400 or better.
• Lauren Halverson set a new personal-high with four aces.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders welcome the defending Patriot League Champions, Colgate to campus on Sunday, October 2 at 2 p.m.

 
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