PROVIDENCE – Trailing 2-1 heading into the fourth set the Holy Cross volleyball team rallied from the deficit and picked up a 3-2 five set victory against Merrimack during the opening day of the Friar Volleyball Classic hosted by Providence.

The win was the third over the last four matches for the Crusaders as they improve to 3-6. The Warriors slide to 1-5 with the loss.

Three players tallied double-digit kills for Holy Cross. Freshman outside hitter Emma Sorensen recorded her fourth straight game of double-digit kills recording a game-best 17 hitting .308 in the contest. Classmate, freshman setter/right side KK Green had 12 kills while junior outside hitter Taliah Lee posted 10 kills across four sets.

SET SCORES:
Crusaders 3, Warriors 2 (20-25, 25-15, 20-25, 25-16, 15-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Sorensen roped an ace off a Merrimack athlete for the 5-4 Holy Cross margin. A Crusader attack miscue gave the Warriors an 8-6 edge. Freshman right side Madelyn Blakey and freshman middle blocker Kyla Harris towered for a block at the right pin to trail 11-10. Sophomore setter Tuana Ozarpaci placed an ace in for the short-lived Holy Cross 13-12 lead. Merrimack took a 19-16 advantage late in the set. A Merrimack block upped their lead to 22-17 before another block gave them the set.
• Holy Cross doubled up their opponents 6-3 in the second set. Another Ozarpaci ace made the score 9-6. The Crusader lead increased to 13-9 as the Warriors stopped play with a timeout. Back-to-back Lee kills increased the score to 15-10. Five consecutive from the Crusaders made it a 20-10 set. A block by the freshmen duo of outside hitter Ava White and middle blocker Isa Glover clinched the set 25-15.
• A Crusader attack error in the third set opened up a 7-3 Merrimack lead. Holy Cross battled back to come within one following a Harris and Green block in the middle putting them behind 13-12. Sophomore defensive specialist Alana Whitwell kept her squad trailing by one notching an ace. Merrimack separated themselves from Holy Cross jumping out to a 23-19 edge. The Warriors reached set point, 24-20 and tallied an ace to lead the match 2-1.
• The fourth set had senior setter Katie Russell recording an ace for the 4-2 advantage. Another Ozarpaci ace moved the Crusaders ahead 11-5. A pair of consecutive blocks from Harris improved the margin to 15-6. Holy Cross eventually led by 11, 19-8 following another Whitwell ace, her third of the match. Sorensen's 15th kill won the set for Holy Cross.
• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Wold and Harris got a block on their right side improving the score to 7-4. Harris regained the three point lead, 9-6 powering the ball into the floor. The lead increased to 11-7 until Whitwell won the match converting a serve for an ace.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Whitwell established a new career-high with 16 digs while Russell had a personal-best four aces and Harris a career-high eight total blocks.
• Holy Cross came away with 16 aces compared to Merrimack's eight.
• Sorensen double-doubled for the third time this season while Ozarpaci had her second straight double-double.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Hear from Alana Whitwell after her big game against Merrimack! #GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/72hdIv4pwo
— Holy Cross Volleyball (@HCrossVB) September 13, 2025
 

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders wrap up competition at the Friar Volleyball Classic on Saturday, Sept. 13 taking on Central Connecticut State (0-6) at 4:30 p.m. and Providence (4-3) at 7 p.m.

 
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