WORCESTER, Mass.  – Holy Cross volleyball sophomore outside hitter Abbie Lane recorded her fourth double-double of the season, a 14 kill and 15 dig effort as the Crusaders rallied from a 1-0 set deficit to defeat Patriot League opponent Bucknell 3-1 Friday evening during a Deaf* Awareness Game in Coach George Blaney '61 Gymnasium.

The victory stopped the Holy Cross 12 game losing streak as they moved to 3-20, 1-11 PL. Bucknell falls to 12-9, 5-7 PL with the loss.

The Crusaders welcomed fans from the local community who are deaf. There was an American Sign Language Interpreter present during the match while the first set was played silently to the eighth Crusader point with fans using ASL instead of applause and cheering.
 
SET SCORES:

• Crusaders 3, Bison 1 (14-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Bucknell built and early 11-4 lead when Caleigh O'Connell and Valentina Feigl skied up for a block. A Bison attack error pulled the Crusaders within five, 11-6. Laura Caro set up Tijana Kostic for back-to-back kills to make it a 19-9 Bison lead. Bri Frazilus and Jen Sivak capped off the first set victory blocking a Crusader attack attempt.
• Holy Cross and Bucknell traded points throughout the first set. Trailing 11-9, the Crusaders strung together an 8-1 run including a senior-to-senior Emma VanSeveren and Gracyn Benck connection for a 17-12 lead. Four in a row by the Bison put them down one. The Crusaders took a timeout, regrouped and finished off the set strong out producing Bucknell 8-1 as Lane banged an ace off Frazilus to tie the match.
• With the third set leveled 5-5, two Bucknell miscues coupled with freshman Katie Russell and Rachel Johnson kills improved the score to 9-5. A VanSeveren ace increased the Holy Cross lead to 15-10. The Bison pulled the deficit to three, 17-14 however the Crusaders closed the set for a commanding 2-1 match lead.
• A Lane kill doubled up the score early 6-3. VanSeveren kept the Crusaders in business via an ace to make it 16-8. A 10-5 Bucknell burst cut down the edge to three, 21-18. With the three point lead late, a Benck and Lane mash completed the comeback win.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• It was the 10th time this season Abbie Lane has tallied 10 or more digs. Lane has double-digit digs in seven of her last nine matches.
• Gracyn Benck recorded the 700th kill of her collegiate career she needs 17 more to move into the top-10 in program history.
• Senior setter Halle Carter recorded her 1,000th assist at Holy Cross in the match. Carter has 1,601 in her collegiate career.
• Three Crusaders had nine or more assists.
• Four Crusaders had 12 or more digs.
• Junior Sanaea Simmons set a season-high with four total blocks.
• Four-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Bucknell's Bri Frazilus was held in check. She recorded nine kills on a match-high 46 total attacks and hit only .065 with six errors.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

"I thought our bench was electric." ??
??? @CoachColpoys 

"All aspects of our game were on tonight." ??
??? @PeytenAbigail 

Postgame thoughts ??#GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/qOr6tbZwag
— Holy Cross Volleyball (@HCrossVB) October 29, 2022
 

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross concludes their home schedule tomorrow with a Black Out Blaney Senior Day match against Lehigh at 4 p.m.

 
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross volleyball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossVB | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrossvb | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Volleyball | Holy Cross Athletics
YouTube - GoHolyCross