WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross volleyball seniors Abbie Lane and Lauren Halverson tallied double-digit kills as the Crusaders fell to Patriot League opponent Lafayette 3-2 Saturday afternoon on Senior Day in Coach George Blaney '61 Gymnasium.

Before the match, the Crusaders held their Senior Day ceremonies honoring Sarah Stokes, Lane, Halverson and Rian Millership.

Lane was set 50 times in the match and recorded 16 kills to go with 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. She also moved to sixth place (840) on the program's all-time kill list passing Katie Lynch (825, 1997-2000) in the opening stanza.

Halverson matched her career-high with 11 kills hitting .391 in the contest with a match-best tying five total blocks.

The setback was the 22nd of the season for the Crusaders and they are still looking for their first conference win. Lafayette picked up their seventh win and second in league action.

SET SCORES:
Leopards 3, Crusaders 2 (14-25, 25-23, 21-25, 13-15)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• A Leopard kill put them in front 11-5 early as Holy Cross took a timeout. Lafayette led by 10, 21-11. Holy Cross kept fighting as Lane captured the Crusaders' 13th point of the set. Lafayette won the first set for the 1-0 match edge.
• Holy Cross trailed in the second set and leveled the score 8-8 when sophomore Lily Eigner placed an ace. Lane gave the Crusaders their first lead of the match at 10-9. Another Lane kill increased the advantage to 12-10. Millership tipped a kill moving the advantage to three, 15-12 at the media stoppage. Trailing 19-16, Lafayette used a 4-1 burst to tie the set 20-20. A huge block from Halverson and Millership opened the lead to 23-21. Lafayette deadlocked the set 23-23, but the Crusaders won 25-23 via a freshman Gabby Wold kill and Leopard attack error.
• In the third set Holy Cross trailed 7-6 and scored three straight for the 9-7 margin. Lafayette regained the lead at 16-14 due to a 5-1 mini run. Their lead increased to three, 18-15 forcing the Crusaders into their first timeout. A Lane kill and a Leopard attack error put Holy Cross down one, 19-18. Lafayette remained in the lead for the remainder of the set taking a 2-1 match lead.
• The Crusaders started the fourth set off fast notching five straight points using a Halverson and sophomore Maeve Bailey block for the 5-0 score. Lafayette trailed 8-3 and came within two, 10-8. The Crusader net presence struck again as Bailey rose up high for back-to-back blocks with Halverson and Millership assisting for the 15-10 margin. From there Holy Cross out produced their opponents 11-4 with Eigner capping off the set win with an ace.
• Behind 7-6 in the final set, Holy Cross notched three straight points with Haverson posting a kill and a block with teammate Bailey for the 9-7 lead. Eigner got a kill moving her squad in the lead at 12-8. Lafayette outscored the Crusaders 7-1 to take the match.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Lafayette hit .609 in the first set and did not make an attack error.
• The Crusaders recorded a .379 hitting percentage in the fourth set.
• Junior setter Katie Russell double-doubled for the third time this season with a career-high 15 digs and game-best 24 assists.
• Sophomore libero Emma Halstead tallied 20+ digs for the fifth time this season (22).

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross wraps up its 2024 season on Saturday, Nov. 16 against Navy.
• First serve is set for 4 p.m.

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