WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Holy Cross volleyball team wrapped up their 2022 season with a 3-0 loss to Patriot League opponent American Saturday afternoon at Bender Arena.

The win ends the Crusaders' season at 3-24, 1-15 PL while the Eagles soar to 15-14, 7-9 PL. American earned a berth in the Patriot League tournament with a win last night and will play in the Patriot League Quarterfinal round on Tuesday.
 
SET SCORES:

• Eagles 3, Crusaders 0 (22-25, 13-25, 10-25)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Trailing 4-2, senior Gracyn Benck tallied a kill and an ace to knot up the score 4-4. Junior Sanaea Simmons and sophomore Mia Hofacker skied up for a block at the middle of the net to pull the Crusaders within two, 7-5. Behind by three, an 8-2 Crusader stretch which included a sophomore Rian Millership and Benck block at the pin gave the Crusaders a 13-10 lead. Holy Cross led 15-12 at the media stoppage. Out of the media timeout an American attack miscue expanded the Crusader lead to 17-13. American went on a 7-1 outburst to regain the margin 20-18. Three in a row including a Simmons ace and a freshman Rachel Johnson tipped kill reestablished the lead for the Crusaders and 21-20. American eventually won the set 25-22.
• American jumpstarted the second set on a 9-2 burst. Freshman Katie Russell recorded a kill to bring the margin to four, 11-7. Zeynep Uzen bashed a kill to increase the American edge to nine, 19-10. Simmons killed off an attempt which held off set point until the Eagles iced the set and took a 2-0 lead.
• Sophomore Abbie Lane cut the early Crusader deficit to two, 6-4 with a kill from the pin. American eventually doubled up the Crusaders at 15-7 midway through the set. The Eagles outscored the Crusaders 10-3 over the remainder of the match.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Benck finished her Holy Cross career with 733 kills (2.21 K/S), a .155 hitting percentage, 164 digs, 123 total blocks and 31 service aces across 95 matches. Benck's 733 kills are 10th all-time in program history.
• Senior libero Emma VanSeveren ends her Crusader career with 542 digs, 106 assists and 51 aces over 79 matches.

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