DURHAM, N.H. – The Holy Cross volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of nonconference opponent New Hampshire Wednesday night at the Lundholm Gymnasium.

The setback sends Holy Cross to 1-7 on the year while the win stops a three game losing skid for New Hampshire (5-3).
 
SET SCORES:

• Wildcats 3, Crusaders 1 (25-21, 10-25, 12-25, 20-25)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross took a 3-2 lead early when senior captain Gracyn Benck powered a kill from the middle. The Wildcats jumped back ahead 10-8 due to a Crusader attack error. The Crusaders responded with a 12-1 run getting multiple contributions via the pins and through service for the 20-11 lead. New Hampshire battled to come within three, 24-21 forcing Holy Cross into a timeout. After the timeout, freshman Rachel Johnson tipped the ball for the set clinching point.
• The Crusaders leveled the second set at 4-4 due to a Wildcat ball handling error. UNH put together four straight markers to double up the margin 8-4. Following a Holy Cross timeout, the hosts strung together four more points for the 12-4 edge. The home team took the second set 25-10.
• Holy Cross started fast in the third set with Johnson serving getting her third ace of the match part of the early 4-1 score. Holding a 6-4 lead, the Crusaders built a 5-1 run to lead 11-5 with freshman Gracie Reisman blocking an attack attempt and recording a kill. UNH moved back in front 15-11 using 10 straight points. Johnson smacked an attempt on the left pin to temporarily stop the outburst. Back-to-back kills by sophomore Lauren Halverson and Johnson put the away team behind by three, 22-19 late. From there the Wildcats closed out the set.
• Junior captain Sanaea Simmons and Johnson notched kills to push the Crusaders into the lead at 9-8 in the fourth set. Behind 12-11, the Crusaders chipped in five in a row including Johnson's fourth ace and a smash from Simmons in the middle for the 16-12 score. The match of runs continued as the Wildcats strung along seven in a row to leapfrog the Crusaders 19-16 and eventually capturing the match win.

 
INSIDE THE BOX:

• Johnson established a new career high in aces (4).
• Lane had a season-best 13 kills in the match.
• Senior setter Halle Carter recorded a double-double with a match-best 24 assists to go with 13 digs.
• Three players (Lane, Benck and Johnson) had double-digit kills while the Wildcats only had one (Millie Grove).

 
UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross remains local for the Friar Volleyball Classic this coming weekend hosted by Providence. Holy Cross will take on NJIT on Friday, September 9 at 7 p.m.

 
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