CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –The Holy Cross volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss to nonconference opponent New Hampshire in the opening day of the Harvard Invitational Friday afternoon.

The setback sends the Crusaders to 1-3 early in the campaign while the Wildcats improve to 4-1.

Sophomore Rachel Johnson tallied a contest-high 13 kills while freshman libero Haley Gill had a career and game-best 18 digs for Holy Cross.
 
SET SCORES:

• Wildcats 3, Crusaders 0 (18-25, 22-25, 16-25)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Junior Lauren Halverson gave the Crusaders a 3-1 lead cashing home a kill from the right pin. From there the Wildcats went on a 7-0 burst getting three consecutive aces to lead 8-3. A dual block and a junior Sarah Stokes ace brought Holy Cross within three, 8-5. Senior Sanaea Simmons kept the Crusaders down by three 15-12 near the midway point. The Wildcats closed the set on a 6-2 run to take a 1-0 match lead.
• Holy Cross led 4-0 early in the second set until New Hampshire knotted the margin at 4-4. With the Crusaders leading 7-6, UNH took their first advantage 9-7 off three straight points. The Wildcats built a four point edge at 13-9. A 6-2 Holy Cross spurt leveled the score at 15-15 getting two kills and a block from Johnson. The teams kept trading points until New Hampshire jumped in front 22-20 and Holy Cross took a timeout. A kill and an ace evened the set at 22-22 then UNH rattled off three straight to hold a 2-0 edge.
• UNH began the third set out producing the Crusaders 10-4 and forcing them into an early timeout. Halverson cut into the deficit with a kill as the Crusaders trailed 10-6. Sophomore Madison Bailey placed an ace for the Crusaders' 12th point. A 9-4 UNH run iced the game.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• There were 11 tie scores in the second set.
• Gill notched her first career kill in the second set.
• Johnson matched a season-high with 13 kills. It was her third double-digit kill performance of the season.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 2 versus Stonehill (10 a.m.) and host Harvard (7 p.m.)

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