WORCESTER, Mass. – Freshman outside hitter Rachel Johnson and senior setter Halle Carter each produced double-doubles as the Holy Cross volleyball team suffered a 3-1 loss to Patriot League opponent American Friday evening in Coach George Blaney '61 Gymnasium.

Johnson recorded a new career-highs with 15 kills, 18 digs, and four total blocks while hitting .239 for the Crusaders (2-16, 0-7 PL) for her second career double-double effort against the Eagles (11-8, 3-4). Carter established a new season-best with a match-high 36 assists and campaign-best 19 digs.

Freshman middle blocker Gracie Reisman had a career performance notching career-highs in kills (13), blocks (7) and digs (5). Sophomore middle blocker Lauren Halverson was unstoppable at the net tallying 12 total blocks easily besting her previous career-high of nine. As a team Holy Cross had 17 total blocks compared to American's nine.

American's Carlie Fikse led all players with 16 kills on .560 hitting to go with five total blocks. Libero Rachael Bennett amassed 30 digs while Inbal Peleg (24 digs, 10 assists) and Esma Sipahi (32 assists, 17 digs) double-doubled.
 
SET SCORES:

• Eagles 3, Crusaders 1 (21-25, 32-34, 25-15, 22-25)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross jumped ahead 3-0 early in the first set. A Morgan Johnson ace left the set tied 6-6. Carter set up Halverson in the middle to push the Crusaders ahead 12-8. A bad set by the Crusaders tied the set again at 12-12. Sipahi set up Fikse for a kill to regain the lead 15-14 for American. Trailing by three, the Crusaders dropped the deficit to one via a Reisman kill however the Eagles closed out the set.
• Behind 9-4 in the second set, the Crusader net presence produced three blocks with Halverson assisting on all three for a 7-0 Holy Cross run to take the 11-9 edge. American retook the margin at five, 17-12 off a Fikse kill. Behind 21-17 late, the Crusaders used a 6-1 mini spurt capped off by a Halverson kill to regain the lead 23-22. On set point following a Johnson kill, Fikse deadlocked the set 24 all. The teams headed to extra serves and swapped points. Reisman gave the hosts a 32-31 advantage as an American challenge was unsuccessful. The Eagles produced the next three points to take the set.
• In the third set, Holy Cross trailed early 5-1 and came within three, 8-5 after a Johnson kill. From there, the Crusaders went on a set shaping 14-3 run to turn the three point deficit into a eight point lead following a Reisman kill. American tried to trim the margin however another Halverson block assist with Carter clinched the third set victory for Holy Cross.
• Senior Gracyn Benck and Halverson started the fourth set with a bang blocking Fikse's attack attempt for the 1-0 score. This was the only time Holy Cross would hold the lead in the final set. American slowly constructed a multiple score edge, but the Crusaders, on match point staved off defeat thanks to a Benck kill. Sipahi made a solo block for the match clinching point.

 
OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross scored 30 or more points in a set for the first time since August 30, 2013 against Sacred Heart (30-32, third set).
• The Crusaders last scored over 32 points in a set on October 19, 2007 at Navy (33-31, first set).
• The last time Holy Cross produced exactly 32 points in a set was November 11, 2006 at Lehigh (32-30, fourth set).

 
UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders hit the road on Sunday for a 2 p.m. conference matchup with Lafayette.

 
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