WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Holy Cross volleyball team fell by a 3-1 score to Patriot League foe American on Sunday afternoon in Bender Arena.

The setback was the 16th of the season for the Crusaders and seventh in league play while the host Eagles won their seventh straight game and improved to 14-4, 7-1 PL.

Junior outside hitter Taliah Lee had a team-best 12 kills in the match while freshman outside hitter Emma Sorensen recorded double-digit kills (11) for the fourth straight game. Sophomore middle blocker Lacey Murphy had eight kills and hit .429 in the contest.

SET SCORES:
Eagles 3, Crusaders 1 (9-25, 14-25, 27-25, 16-25)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Senior setter Katie Russell set up Lee for the opening point of the showdown. American put together 14 straight points to take a commanding 14-1 edge early. Russell found junior outside hitter Lily Eigner for a kill to stop the American scoring outburst. American eventually won the set 25-9.
• Sorensen posted a kill and Murphy blocked an attack attempt for the 2-0 Crusader edge. The Eagles took a 6-4 lead, however the Crusaders tied it up thanks to kills from Lee and freshman setter/right side KK Green making it 6-6. With the contest tied 7-7, the home team scored seven straight to double up the margin 14-7. Sorensen brought her team within five, 17-12. American closed out the set on a 7-1 burst to take a 2-0 match lead.
• The Crusaders rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead off the strength of a Russell set to Murphy. A Green ace kept Holy Cross ahead 10-8. The teams traded points and American led by four, 23-19. Holy Cross kept battling following a timeout, kills from freshman middle blocker Isa Glover and Lee with a Sorensen kill and ace was a stretch of four straight to tie the set 23-23. On match point, Sorensen leveled the score at 24 all. Lee helped the Crusaders compete the comeback with a kill and an ace for the set clinching win.
• A Sorensen ace pushed Holy Cross ahead 5-4 in the fourth set. With the contest tied 6-6, American strung together four straight to lead 10-6. Murphy trimmed the deficit to one, 14-13 notching a kill. Eight in a row by the Eagles put them ahead 22-13. They completed the set winning 25-16.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Russell recorded 30+ assists for the third straight contest.
• Hall had double-figure digs for the third consecutive game.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross returns home to face nonconference opponent Siena (8-12) on Wednesday, October 15.
• First serve is set for 6 p.m.

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