EASTON, Mass. - The Holy Cross volleyball team defeated Siena College at the Skyhawk Invitational at Stonehill College to mark their first win of the 2024 season on Friday, Aug. 30. The Crusaders were able to solidify their win in the fourth set of the match in a back-and-forth battle with the Saints. 

Senior Abbie Lane had a team-high 15 kills and 13 digs, while freshman Gabby Wold had 12 kills and junior Gracie Reisman finished with 10 kills and hit .588 to support the Crusaders in the teams' first match back on the court.

SET SCORES:
Crusaders 3, Saints 1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-15, 28-26)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Holy Cross held steady with Siena during the first set, going point for point for the beginning of the set. The Crusaders collectively had 12 kills and held defensively from the start, but were shut down by the Saints as Siena went on a four-point run and a seven-point run to take the first set from the Crusaders, 25-20.
• The Crusaders came out strong in the second set and marked seven of the first 10 points scored. Holy Cross did not allow any scoring runs this set, holding Siena to one or two points at a time. An attack error by Sonja Meyer brought the possession back to the hands of the Crusaders to allow a five-point scoring run to clinch the second set 25-13. A kill by sophomore Maeve Bailey and a Siena attack error finished out the second set.
• Coming into the third set, the Crusaders capitalized, going on three or four-point runs. This put the Crusaders ahead early on, and the team locked in defensively to maintain those possessions. A kill by senior Rian Millership, a service ace by junior Katie Russell, and a kill by Reisman secured the final three points of the set for the Crusaders to win 25-15.
• With the Crusaders up 2-1, the fourth set brought another point-for-point battle against the Saints. Siena took control early, taking a 3-0 lead. This wasn't left unanswered, as the Crusaders went back and forth with the Saints until a kill by Reisman allowed Holy Cross to go on a four-point run to take the lead and make it a 20-18 game. A kill by Sina Toroslu brought the possession back to Siena to put two more points on the board, tying the game up. Siena went on a three-point run after the tie was broken to lead 24-23, which was answered immediately by Holy Cross, who put  two more points on the board. With the score tied 25-25, the two teams went point for point until Holy Cross clinched the win, 28-26, with a block by Millership and Wold and a kill by Lane.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• The team recorded a total of 49 kills; Lane had the team high of 15 kills, also chipping in 13 digs for a double-double, while Wold had 12 kills and Reisman had 10 kills. Wold chipped in 12 kills for a double-double in her first collegiate contest.
• This is Holy Cross' first season-opening win since the Spring 2021 season. 

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will compete in a doubleheader Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Skyhawk Invitational at Stonehill College.
• The first game is set for 9 a.m. against Stonehill, and the second game is set for 2 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne in the Merkert Gymnasium.