EASTON, Mass. - The Holy Cross volleyball team dropped a pair of close matches on day two of the Skyhawk Invitation on Saturday, Aug. 31. The Crusaders fell to host-institution Stonehill 3-2 in their opening match, before dropping a 3-2 match to Purdue Fort Wayne in the finale.

MATCH ONE SET SCORES:
Skyhawks 3, Crusaders 2 (20-25, 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 15-10)

HOW MATCH ONE HAPPENED: 

• The Crusaders took the floor with some force and put two or three points up on the board in each possession to pull ahead of the Skyhawks. Holy Cross maintained a consistent lead and recorded 18 kills as a team, eventually winning the set 25-20.
• Holy Cross scored three quick points in the beginning of the second set, before Stonehill came back to claim an 18-10 edge. But the Crusaders would use a six-point run to come back and tie the score at 19-19, thanks to multiple blocks by senior Lauren Halverson and sophomore Maeve Bailey. But the Skyhawks clinched the win with another five-point run at the end of the set to defeat the Crusaders 25-20.
• Both teams consistently put points on the board early in the third set, until a kill by Bailey led the Crusaders on a five-point run, making the score 10-7. The score was later tied at 24-24, before a kill by Georgia Murphy and a service ace by Sarah Frager gave Stonehill a 26-24 win. 
• The fourth was close throughout, with the score being tied at 23-23 late in the set. Kills by junior Gracie Reisman and freshman Gabby Wold then gave Holy Cross the win, leading the match into the fifth set.
• In the fifth set, Stonehill used a four-point run to pull in front, but the Crusaders later scored four points over five possessions to close the gap. The Skyhawks were able to hold on and secure the win with two late kills by Murphy.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross recorded 52 kills throughout the match; 18 in the first set, and Reisman had the team high with 18 kills. 

MATCH TWO SET SCORES:
Mastodons 3, Crusaders 2 (19-25, 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 16-14)

HOW MATCH TWO HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross took the court by storm taking a quick 6-0 lead at the start the first set. Purdue Fort Wayne was able to narrow down the gap down to four (22-18), but the Crusaders were able to finish strong with a 25-19 score with kills from junior Katie Russell and senior Abbie Lane. 
• The second set was tied up at 18-18, before the Mastodons went on a five-point scoring run to take the lead and claim the second set.
• The third set was close early on, before Purdue Fort Wayne pulled ahead with three- and four-point runs, making the score 19-13. A kill by sophomore Lily Eigner broke up the run, but the Mastodons were able to secure the win with kills by Iris Riegel and Jena Medearis.
• The Crusaders took the court just like the first set, putting four points up on the board and taking the lead. The Mastodons came back to take the lead, but were answered by a seven-point run from the Crusaders, making the score 15-10. Holy Cross eventually closed out the set 25-23 with a kill by freshman Gabby Wold
• The fifth set was close throughout, and was tied late at 14-14. Purdue Fort Wayne then took the final two points, The Mastodons then won the final two points, ending the match with a kelly by Panna Ratkai.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross recorded 59 kills in the second match, led by Lane with 17 and Reisman with 15.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

• Both Lane and Reisman were named to the Skyhawk Invitational All-Tournament team.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders are traveling to San Antonio, Texas, for the UTSA Invitational. Holy Cross will play in a double header on Friday, Sept. 6 against Texas-San Antonio at 11:00 a.m. and Incarnate Word at 5:00 p.m. 

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