LEWISBURG, Pa. – Holy Cross volleyball sophomore Rachel Johnson produced a contest-best 10 kills as the Crusaders were defeated 3-0 on the road at Patriot League opponent Bucknell Saturday evening in Davis Gymnasium.

The Bison improved to 8-9 and 4-4 in league play while the Crusaders suffered their 13th loss and are still looking for their first conference win.

Johnson was one dig shy of a double-double (10 kills, nine digs) she added two block assists and one ace. Senior Halle Carter recorded her 25th career double-double and 18th as a member of the Crusaders with a team-high 14 assists to go with 11 digs.

SET SCORES:

• Bison 3, Crusaders 0 (22-25, 16-25, 17-25)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Sanaea Simmons and junior Abbie Lane slid to the left pin to block a Bucknell attempt to knot the opening set at 3-3. A Bucknell service error put the Crusaders down 7-5 before Bucknell opened up a 9-5 lead and Holy Cross took their first timeout. The Bison doubled up the Crusaders 14-7 thanks to a service ace. Trailing by 10, 17-7 the Crusaders went on a 4-1 binge getting two Johnson kills and one apiece off the swing of sophomore Gracie Reisman and junior Lauren Halverson to cut the deficit to 18-11. Their run expanded to 8-3 as a Johnson smash put them down five, 20-15. Bucknell took a timeout and produced three in a row making it 23-15. Holy Cross did not back down and pulled within two, 24-22 thanks to a 7-1 run. A Bucknell kill concluded the set.
• Johnson and junior Rian Millership coupled for a block for the first Crusader lead of the match in the second set. Back-to-back kills from Lane and Simmons kept Holy Cross in the lead at 4-3. Bucknell doubled up the Crusaders 8-4 over the next few serves to lead 12-7 as the guests took a timeout. Out of the stoppage, the Crusaders came within three, 12-9 as Millership and Lane got a block at the right pin. A 5-1 Bucknell run opened up a 17-10 lead. Holy Cross pulled within five due to two straight Johnson kills, but Bucknell racked up the final four points for the 2-0 match lead.
• Halverson brought the guests within one at 7-6 in the early going. Still holding the lead Bucknell went on a set shaping 11-3 run to push the edge to 18-9. Johnson's ninth kill of the match made it 19-13 Bucknell. She manufactured her 10th kill at 24-17. Bucknell won the final set 25-17.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• The double-double effort was Carter's first since Nov. 5, 2022 at Army West Point.
• Johnson has produced 12 double-digit kill matches in 2023.
• Freshman libero Haley Gill has double-digit digs in four straight matches and in 12 of 16 games this season.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross wraps up their weekend road trip on Sunday, Oct. 8 at Loyola (Md.)
• First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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