PROVIDENCE – The Holy Cross volleyball team dropped a pair of three set contests to nonconference opponents Central Connecticut State and Providence Saturday evening at the final day of the Friar Volleyball Classic.

The losses send the Crusaders to 3-7 in the early stages of the season while the Blue Devils (1-7) and Friars (7-3) improve their records.

Freshman outside hitter Emma Sorensen led the way during the classic posting a team-best 30 kills (3.00 K/s) with 22 digs (2.20 D/S), two blocks and two aces. Junior outside hitter Taliah Lee had 21 kills (2.63 K/S) with 18 digs (2.25 D/S) while hitting .220. Freshman middle blocker Kyla Harris recorded a squad-high 11 blocks (1.10 BLK/S).

MATCH ONE SET SCORES:
Blue Devils 3, Crusaders 0 (15-25, 16-25, 22-25)

HOW MATCH ONE HAPPENED: 

• Freshman setter/right side KK Green and Harris combined for a block to tie the score 2-2 early on in the opening stanza. A trio of CCSU errors kept them in front by one until back-to-back aces opened up a 14-10 lead. Holding a three point margin, five straight grew their edge to 21-13. A bad set and a kill won them the first set.
• A pair of sophomore outside hitter Gabby Wold kills started the Crusaders off fast in the second set building a 5-1 score. A 12-2 run from the Blue Devils pushed them ahead at 13-7. Two aces in a row upped the advantage to 17-9. Sorensen brought her team within five at 21-16 until the foes rattled off four straight to go up 2-0 in the match.
• CCSU built an early 5-1 lead. Junior outside hitter Lily Eigner brought her team within one placing an ace making it 9-8 Blue Devils. Five consecutive markers opened up a 14-8 score. Down six, freshman outside hitter Ava White and classmate, middle blocker Isa Glover produced blocks and kills apiece pulling their squad down two, 19-17. Sorensen racked up another kill making it 23-22 before CCSU tallied the final two points.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Glover hit a team-best .400 with three kills and two blocks in the match.

MATCH TWO SET SCORES:
Friars 3, Crusaders 0 (19-25, 17-25, 22-25)

HOW MATCH TWO HAPPENED:

• Sophomore middle blocker Lacey Murphy blocked an attack attempt at the net while a pair of errors doubled up the host Friars 6-3 early. A 7-1 burst from the hosts put them ahead 10-7. Back-to-back kills from Sorensen and Green dropped their lead to one, 13-12. A few serves later, Sorensen tied the set 17 all mashing a kill. Ahead by two, Providence clinched the set with four in a row.
• Providence jumped ahead 12-3 early in the second set. Green dropped the deficit to five 14-9 converting an attack attempt. The Friars' lead expanded to 10, 21-11 and Holy Cross slowly chipped away using a 6-1 run to come within five, 22-17. Providence produced the final three points to lead 2-0 in the match.
• A Lee kill coupled with a Friar attack error doubled up the margin at 8-4 for the Crusaders. Providence got a dual block to take back the advantage at 10-9. Down two, Holy Cross leveled the score 17 all following a Harris kill and an attack error. The teams kept trading points until sophomore defensive specialist Alana Whitwell aced the Friars to tie the score 21-21. Providence eventually took the set 25-22.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Senior setter Katie Russell reached 1,000 career assists in the match.
• Whitwell has six contests of double-digit digs and five over the last six games.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders open their home schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 17 for Grow the Game Youth Night and a Cousy Cup bout against Stonehill (1-9) at 6 p.m. 

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