NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Trailing by seven points in the first set while dealing with heat, humidity, and a fired-up crowd, the Holy Cross volleyball program came back to take the first set and the ensuing stanzas for a 3-0 sweep of nonconference opponent Merrimack Tuesday evening on Hammel Court.

The win improves the Crusaders mark to 1-3 in early going while the loss sends the Warriors to 2-2.
 
SET SCORES:

• Crusaders 3, Warriors 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-19)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• With the opening set level at 4-4. Merrimack put together six straight points to take a 10-4 advantage in the set. Sophomore Mia Hofacker powered a kill through the blocking Warriors to stop the spurt. Trailing by seven, Holy Cross produced four straight getting two aces off the serve of junior Sanaea Simmons to come within three, 12-9. The Warriors expanded their lead again, however, Holy Cross continued to drop in aces this time from senior Emma VanSeveren to pull within one, 17-16. A sophomore Lauren Halverson solo block tied the set 20-20 while back-to-back freshman Rachel Johnson kills made it 23-20. Halverson clogged the middle again for another stuff for the 25-21 set win.
• Behind 3-2 early on Holy Cross used a 9-1 binge using a Hofacker kill and two straight aces by freshman Katie Russell for an 11-4 advantage. Senior Gracyn Benck doubled up the score 16-8 smacking a kill from the pin. Hofacker concluded the set with another kill for the 2-0 match lead.
• Back-to-back blocks from sophomore Rian Millership and Benck put the Crusaders ahead 3-2. A Merrimack ace put them down two, 7-5 until the Crusaders hung six in a row to lead 13-5. The Warriors went on a 12-6 run of their own to drop the margin to two, 19-17. Senior Halle Carter iced the match skipping the set for the clinching point.

 
INSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross tallied 10 service aces. They only had two service errors compared to the Merrimack 10.
• Benck accumulated a match-best 10 kills and hit .381 in the contest. Over four games, the senior captain hitting .348.
• Hofacker hit .455 in the match ranking second on the team with six kills.
• Johnson paced the Crusaders in aces (3) and digs (13). VanSeveren matched Johnson with three aces.

COACH/PLAYER CORNER: 

?? Volume up ??

Hear from @CoachColpoys and @gracynbenck after last night's win at Merrimack!#GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/GQRJnEm9v7
— Holy Cross Volleyball (@HCrossVB) August 31, 2022
 

 
UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross ships out west to The Golden State to participate in the UCI/Adidas Invitational this weekend for three matches. The first is on Friday, Sept. 2 versus host California-Irvine at 1:00 p.m. EST.

 
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