EASTON, Pa. – Freshman outside hitter Emma Sorensen had a game-best 13 kills and added 11 digs as the Holy Cross volleyball team picked up a 3-0 sweep of Patriot League foe Lafayette Saturday evening in the Kirby Sports Center.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Crusaders and moved them to 6-15, 1-6 PL on the season while the host Leopards suffered their third straight defeat and fall to 4-14, 2-6 PL.

Sorensen double-doubled for the seventh time this season and for the third straight match dating back to Sept. 26 against Bucknell. The newcomer posted a career-high three service aces as well. Classmate, freshman setter/right side KK Green joined Sorensen in double-figures with 10 kills. Freshman defensive specialist Elizabeth Hall (17) and junior outside hitter Taliah Lee (16) notched a personal-bests in digs.

SET SCORES:
Crusaders 3, Leopards 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-17)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Holy Cross got a block at the left pin from Sorensen and freshman middle blocker Isa Glover for the first points of the first set for either team. The Leopards produced the next six points to lead 6-1 in the early stages. Their scoring spurt expanded to 8-1 as they margin grew to 8-2. Seven straight Crusader markers with Sorensen producing a trio of aces and a kill tied the set 9-9. Trailing by three, Holy Cross rallied outscoring their opponent 7-1 as Sorensen posted two kills while sophomore middle blocker Lacey Murphy and senior setter Katie Russell combined for a block making it 19-16. Facing set point, the Leopards staved off defeat with four straight making it 24-23. Green tipped home the final kill of the set for the Crusader win.
• Back-to-back Glover aces had her team in the lead at 5-1 early in the second set. Coming out of the timeout, Sorensen tallied another kill upping the margin to 6-1. The Crusaders strong second set continued as four consecutive Russell aces doubled up the score 18-9. Russell continued her strong set notching back-to-back kills. She then set up Murphy for the set clinching kill on the right side.
• Lafayette began the third set outproducing the Crusaders 5-1. Sorensen put her squad ahead for the first time by converting a Hall set for the 10-9 Holy Cross edge. Sorensen's kill was part of a 7-1 Crusader outburst as they led 15-10. Glover and junior outside hitter Taliah Lee clinched the sweep with a dual block on the right side.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• The six wins for the Crusaders are the most since 2018 (eight).
• This was the first Patriot League win for Holy Cross since October 20, 2023 a 3-1 victory at home against Lehigh.
• Green had six of her 10 kills and Lee had 11 of her 16 digs in the first set.
• Holy Cross held the advantage at the service line notching 10 aces to Lafayette's three.
• Murphy hit .400 with eight kills in the match.
• Russell needs 145 more assists to move to 10th on the program's all-time list.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross concludes their four game road trip on Sunday, Oct. 12 at American (13-4, 6-1 PL).
• First serve is set for 3 p.m.

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