WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross volleyball team took the first set Saturday during homecoming weekend but couldn't win the important third set in extra serves to fall to Patriot League opponent Loyola (Md.) 3-1 in the George Blaney '61 Gymnasium.

With the setback, the Crusaders move to 2-11, 0-2 PL while the Greyhounds increase their mark to 3-6, 1-1 PL.

SET SCORES:

• Greyhounds 3, Crusaders 1 (25-15, 18-25, 25-27, 15-25)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A 6-0 scoring run by Holy Cross began the match. Freshman Rachel Johnson smacked a kill down the line on the left pin. Sophomore Rian Millership regained the six-point lead for the hosts set up by senior Halle Carter at 10-4. A Megan Bukala and Adara Kellogg dual block pulled the Greyhounds within two, 12-10. From there, the Crusaders built a 23-11 edge thanks to a 10-1 spurt with aces from Carter and sophomore Abbie Lane before Holy Cross won the set 25-15.
• Loyola countered the Crusaders' 6-0 start with a 6-0 one of their own in the second set. Junior captain Sanaea Simmons bashed a free ball from the middle to trim the HC deficit to five, 14-9. Two Greyhound players blocked the Crusaders to raise their lead to nine, 19-10. The hosts made a late charge, but couldn't come much closer than six points late.
• The third set was full of thrilling moments. Rose McDermott placed an ace to give the away team the five point 15-10 lead. Holy Cross marched back into the match to level the set, 23-23 as Johnson barely located an ace just inside the back line. Loyola challenged the line judge's call and the ace was upheld. Facing set point, Lane converted an attack attempt to deadlock the set 24-24. Sophomore Mia Hofacker also came up huge on set point with a kill. Holy Cross challenged Megan Bukala's kill as the Crusaders thought it drilled the antenna however the call was confirmed. Loyola recorded the final point for the 27-25 win and 2-1 match lead.
• Freshman Gracie Reisman powered an attempt at the pin to bring the Crusaders' deficit to two, 7-5. Loyola used a 9-4 run to jump ahead 16-9 through the middle stages of the set. It expanded to nine, 22-13 via a bad set by Holy Cross. Back-to-back Megan Bukala kills completed the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross hit a match-high .342 in the third set with 16 kills.
• Carter recorded 13 digs and needs only two more for 500 in her collegiate career.
• Senior captain Emma VanSeveren tallied a match-high 19 digs. VanSeveren was one of three Crusaders (Carter – 13, Johnson – 12) with double figure digs.
• Lane tallied double-digit kills for the fourth time this season, she had a contest-best 12.
• Simmons had a season-high eight kills in the match.
• Hofacker hit .429 marking the third match this season that she hit over .400.
• Freshman Katie Russell matched a career-high with 19 assists.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders hit the road next weekend for a pair of Patriot League contests. The first, a 7:00 p.n. battle with Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa.

 
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