WEST POINT, N.Y.  – The Holy Cross volleyball program won a thrilling first set in extra serves however Patriot League opponent Army West Point rallied to take the next three sets for the 3-1 win Saturday afternoon.

The setback sends the Crusaders to 3-23, 1-14 PL while the Black Knights, who won their sixth straight move to 16-8, 12-2 PL.

Late in the first set, senior Gracyn Benck moved into the top-10 all-time in kills. Benck passed Clare Honan (722) to move into the top-10. Benck has 728 kills in her Holy Cross career.

#723

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— Holy Cross Volleyball (@HCrossVB) November 5, 2022
 

 
SET SCORES:

• Black Knights 3, Crusaders 1 (26-24, 17-25, 13-25, 19-25)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Benck powered a kill though the block to cut the early deficit to 4-2. Trailing 10-8, sophomore Abbie Lane leveled the set 11-11 via a kill. Benck expanded the margin to 13-11 which was part of a 5-1 Crusader spurt. Army regained the lead at the media stoppage 15-14. Behind by one, Lane and sophomore Lauren Halverson notched two straight kills to lead 20-19. A senior Halle Carter skip set upped the score to 23-20 late. Army was one point away from a set victory at 24-23. Benck tied the match mashing a kill from the right pin which moved her into the program's top 10. Two straight Army attack errors gave the Crusaders the win 26-24.
• In the second set, Hofacker and Halverson skied up high for a dual block moving the guests in front 10-8. 11 straight markers by the Black Knights regained the lead towards their side at 19-10. Holy Cross battled to come within five, 21-16. Army ended up winning the set 25-17.
• Back-to-back aces by senior Emma VanSeveren put the Crusaders in the lead at 3-0 early. A Paige Fixemer kill improved the Black Knight lead to 11-6. Holding a six point edge, Army notched five straight to double up the Crusaders 22-11 before winning 25-13.
• The Black Knights took an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set. Up seven, four in a row from the Crusaders put them behind 12-9. Freshman Katie Russell placed an ace to trim the deficit to 15-13. The Black Knights tacked on five straight for the 20-13 lead. They eventually won by a 25-19 score.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Lane double-doubled for the sixth time this season (11 kills, 17 digs). She has double-doubles in three of the last four matches and double-digit digs in nine of the last 12.
• Carter double-doubled with 17 assists and 17 digs, it was her eighth double-double of the year.
• VanSeveren matched a career-high with 20 digs. 

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross wraps up their season next weekend on Saturday, November 12 at American with first serve set for 2 p.m.

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