WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior
Abbie Lane recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 18 kills and 13 digs as the Holy Cross volleyball team fell by a 3-1 score to Patriot League opponent American during a Cousy Cup game in the Hart Center Arena Friday evening.
Lane's 18 kills match a career-high that was set earlier this season versus Stonehill (Sept. 2). Her 13 digs were a contest-high and she also hit a sublime .467 in the match which is a personal-best.
Fellow outside hitter
Rachel Johnson produced 15 kills with eight digs and a game-best three aces for Holy Cross (3-9, 0-3 PL). Sophomore Gracie Resiman chipped in four kills and a season-high five total blocks.
For American (7-5, 1-0 PL), Preseason Player of the Year Zeynep Uzen was a force on the outside hitting .421 with a match-best 20 kills. She did however struggle in the receive game leading all players with four reception errors. Sofia Osterdahl added 16 kills and five digs as well.
SET SCORES:
- Eagles 3, Crusaders 1 (25-18, 19-25, 30-32, 22-25)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- American notched the first three points of the opening set to lead 3-0. Four straight by the Crusaders including back-to-back aces from Johnson put them ahead 4-3. The teams continued to swap points until five in a row by the hosts getting two kills from junior Lauren Halverson pushed them ahead 13-9. Three consecutive American miscues opened up a 17-11 Crusader edge. An Eagle service error clinched the set for Holy Cross.
- Trailing 6-5 in the second set, American used a 5-1 burst to build a 10-7 lead. An Eagle attack error brought Holy Cross within two. American started to pull away on the strength of a 7-1 burst, but three in a row by the Crusaders made it a four point set. Senior Sanaea Simmons put her team within four late before American knotted the match 1-1.
- American rolled to an early 11-4 margin in the third set. An 8-3 Crusader scoring binge with three kills from Lane and two off the swing of Johnson trimmed the deficit to two, 14-12. Lane kept the Crusaders down two placing an ace at 18-16. A bad set from Holy Cross put American two points away from a 2-1 lead. Holy Cross did not back down and tallied six in a row with sophomore Katie Russell serving to push the hosts ahead 24-23. The set needed extra serves as each team traded possessions. With the set level at 30-30, American produced the final two points for the 32-30 win.
- The Eagles had a three point, 13-10 advantage midway through the set. Blocks from Simmons and Halverson kept the Crusaders down by one, 17-16. Trailing by three, 20-17, the Crusaders mounted another comeback with five straight markers to lead 22-20. American closed the match notching the final five points.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- The double-double was the 17th for Lane in her Crusader career.
- Lane is hitting .446 in her last two matches.
- Freshman libero Haley Gill dished out a career-high seven assists.
- This marks the second straight season in which the Crusaders and Eagles reached 30 points apiece during a set.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders conclude homecoming weekend on Saturday, Sept. 22 with a contest against Navy in the Hart Center Arena.
- First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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