BALTIMORE – Three players recorded double-digit kills as the Holy Cross volleyball team suffered and five set 3-2 loss to Loyola (Md.) in their Patriot League opener Friday evening in Reitz Arena.

The defeat sends the Crusaders to 4-8, 0-1 PL while the Greyhounds improve to 3-7, 1-0 PL with the win.

Freshman middle blocker Kyla Harris hit .733 in the contest with 11 kills on 15 attack attempts adding a career-best seven digs. She was joined in double-figures by classmate, outside hitter Emma Sorensen who posted a game-high 17 kills adding 14 digs while hitting .288. Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Wold chipped in 12 kills and a career-high 18 digs with a personal-best five aces.

SET SCORES:
Greyhounds 3, Crusaders 2 (25-17, 20-25, 26-28, 25-17, 8-15)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Two Sorensen kills early pushed the Crusaders ahead 2-0. Back-to-back kills by Sorensen part of six straight points put Holy Cross back ahead 13-8. The run expanded to 8-1 for the Crusaders as Sorensen put away another kill from sophomore setter Tuana Ozarpaci for the 15-9 edge. Harris tipped a kill making the score 18-10. Behind 21-10, Loyola crawled back into the set outscoring the Crusaders 7-3 coming within 24-17. Sorensen's seventh kill of the set gave Holy Cross the 1-0 lead.
• Loyola took a short lived 2-1 edge in the second set before Holy Cross scored six straight including a freshman right side/setter KK Green kill for the 7-2 lead. A Wold kill kept Holy Cross in front by two, 11-9. Sorensen's 10th kill of the match made it 13-12. The Greyhounds took the advantage 15-14 at the media timeout. Down one, the hosts strung together a 9-3 burst to knot the match 1-1.
• Six straight for Holy Cross put them ahead 6-0 in the important third set as sophomore defensive specialist Alana Whitwell collected a pair of aces and Harris had a kill and a block. Harris' eighth and ninth kill of the match moved the margin to 8-4. Sophomore middle blocker Lacey Murphy posted a kill, but the Greyhounds came within two, 14-12. With the Crusaders leading 20-15, Loyola produced four straight forcing the Crusaders into a timeout. After the stoppage, two more Loyola markers put them in front 21-20. A huge block by Wold and Murphy helped the advantage to 23-21. Loyola outscored the Crusaders 7-3 to win in extra serves 28-26.
• Sorensen was a factor in the Crusaders taking a 7-3 lead in the opening stages of the fourth set. Tied 8-8, Holy Cross tallied four straight as junior outside hitter Taliah Lee and Wold converted sets from senior setter Katie Russell for the 12-8 score. Wold's 10th kill of the match moved the margin to 13-8. Holy Cross kept adding on as Murphy's kill increased the lead to 19-12. Wold placed an ace for the 25-17 set win.
• Wold manufactured another ace for the 1-0 Holy Cross lead. It was the only time they led in the fifth set. Tied 3-3, four in a row by the home team put them in the lead at 7-3. Murphy skied up for a block trimming the deficit to three, 9-6. Holding a three point lead, 11-8 Loyola tallied the final four points to win the match.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Holy Cross is 3-2 in five set contests this season.
• Wold and Sorensen recorded their seventh and fourth career double-doubles respectively. Wold had season-highs in kills (12) and digs (18).
• Whitwell has produced back-to-back games with 20+ digs. She set new career-highs with 28 digs and seven assists against Loyola.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders end their opening weekend of Patriot League action on Saturday, Sept. 20 when they take on Navy (4-5, 0-0 PL) at 4 p.m.

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