SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Holy Cross volleyball team took part in the first day of the UTSA Invitational on Friday hosted by Texas-San Antonio. The Crusaders dropped a pair of contests falling to the host Roadrunners 3-0 and Incarnate Word 3-0.

Junior outside hitter Gracie Reisman, who was named Patriot League Player of the Week on Tuesday, paced the Crusaders with 17 kills (2.83 K/S) over the two matches. Sophomore libero Emma Halstead notched a combined 38 digs (6.33) in both games.

MATCH ONE SET SCORES:
Roadrunners 3, Crusaders 0 (10-25, 15-25, 7-25)

HOW MATCH ONE HAPPENED: 

• Back-to-back kills by senior Abbie Lane tied the opening set 2-2. Classmate Lauren Halverson powered an attack attempt through the block keeping the deficit at three, 8-5 in the early going. An 11-2 outburst by UTSA made the margin 19-7 before they took the first set.
• A block from sophomore Maeve Bailey and Halverson knotted the second set early, 3-3. Ahead by two, 8-6, the Roadrunners notched five straight points to lead 13-6. Four in a row by the Crusaders capped off by a junior Katie Russell ace brought the score to 13-10 in favor of the hosts. Holding a five point lead, UTSA produced the final five markers to take a 2-0 match advantage.
• UTSA came out of the break outscoring the Crusaders 7-1 in the third set. Their lead grew to 13-1 and to a set high 18 as they completed the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• UTSA hit .516 in the opening set and .402 for the game committing only four attack errors.

MATCH TWO SET SCORES:
Cardinals 3, Crusaders 0 (22-25, 19-25, 23-25)

HOW MATCH TWO HAPPENED:

• UIW recorded the first six points of the match for the early edge. A 4-0 mini burst made the score 10-1 until freshman Gabby Wold rocked a ball from the left pin. Trailing 16-6, four straight from the Crusaders including a Lane ace and a block by Wold and Bailey put the score at 16-10. Down 20-10, Holy Cross used a 12-4 scoring run to come within two points, 24-22. UIW scored the final point to thwart the Crusader comeback bid.
• The Crusaders' momentum carried over to the second set as they led 5-0 early thanks to a pair of aces from freshman Lily Torrence. Four in a row from the Cardinals put them within a point before Lane stopped the spurt. A dual block by UIW gave them the first lead of the second set at 8-7. The teams battled until the Cardinals took the set 25-19 on the strength of a 14-6 outburst late.
• Torrence set up her fellow classmate Wold for the early 4-2 lead. UIW held an 8-7 margin as the Crusaders countered outscoring their opponents 7-to-2 as Reisman had three kills with a senior Rian Millership and Lane ace for the 14-10 lead. Two consecutive aces off the serve of senior Sarah Stokes pushed the Crusader lead to 17-11. The Cardinals rallied from that deficit to complete the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Dating back to last year, Halstead has recorded double-digit digs in six straight contests. Her 24 digs against UIW established a new career-high.
• Holy Cross held the service advantage recording 10 aces to UIW's three.
• Stokes matched her career-high in aces with three (vs. Merrimack, Sept. 9, 2023).
• Lane needs nine more kills for 700 in her career.
   

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders wrap up the UTSA Invitational on Saturday, Sept 7. versus Abilene Christian at noon.

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