WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross volleyball outside hitter duo of sophomore Rachel Johnson and junior Abbie Lane had massive games as the Crusaders picked up a 3-1 victory versus nonconference opponent Merrimack Friday evening in Coach George Blaney '61 Gymnasium.

The Crusaders move to 3-5 with the victory and the Warriors slip to 1-6.

Johnson has recorded double-digit kills in seven of the first eight games with a career-best 16. She was one dig shy of a double-double. Lane racked up 14 kills and 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. She also added a match-high three aces.
 
SET SCORES:

• Crusaders 3, Warriors 1 (28-30, 25-19, 25-19, 25-11)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross scored three of their first five points on Merrimack service errors. A Warrior kill to make it 8-5 forced the Crusaders into an early stoppage. Over the next few serves the Crusaders doubled up their counterparts 8-to-4 to take their first lead 13-12. Trailing by three, 23-20, Merrimack scored four consecutive points to be on the verge of winning the set until Lane notched a kill to tie at 24-24. The teams traded points until Merrimack earned the 30-28 victory.
• Back-to-back blocks by junior Sarah Stokes and senior Sanaea Simmons gave the Crusaders their first edge in the second set at 7-6. Merrimack scored four straight to lead 10-7. A 6-2 Crusader spurt in the middle of the set with two kills from Lane and Johnson made it a 21-17 margin in favor of the hosts. The Warriors cut into the deficit to trail by two and the Crusaders halted play with a timeout. They notched the final four points with Stokes clinching the set via an ace.
• With the third set tied at 6-6 a sophomore Gracie Reisman kill with two Warrior miscues moved the Crusaders in front 9-6. Merrimack came within three at 14-11, but Holy Cross countered with a 4-1 mini run to lead 18-12. The guests battled back until Johnson wrapped up the set with a kill from the back row.
• The fourth and final set was all Crusaders as they led Merrimack 14-7 then notched six consecutive points to lead 20-7. Junior Rian Millership manufactured the match clinching kill from the middle for the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Simmons matched a personal-best with seven total blocks which last happened on Feb. 28, 2021 vs. Lafayette.
• Stokes and fellow setter, sophomore Katie Russell recorded 20 assists each.
• Freshman libero Haley Gill has double-digit digs in four of the last five games.
• The Crusaders have matched their 2022 win total (27 matches) through eight matches in 2023.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Rachel Johnson tallied a contest-best 16 kills with nine digs in the dub!#GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/GGRUDfIUuk

— Holy Cross Volleyball (@HCrossVB) September 9, 2023

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will be back in Blaney Gymnasium on Saturday, Sept. 9 against NJIT.
• First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.

 
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross volleyball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossVB | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrossvb | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Volleyball | Holy Cross Athletics
YouTube - GoHolyCross