WORCESTER, Mass. – Down 7-3 in the fifth set, the Holy Cross volleyball team put on a defensive masterclass posting a stretch of four straight blocks which was key to their 3-2 victory over Patriot League foe Bucknell Saturday in the Hart Center Arena.
The win, the fourth straight and fifth over the last six matches for the Crusaders, moves them to 11-11 and 4-5 in the Patriot League. The 11 victories are the most during a season since 2010 (12 wins) and the four conference wins are the most since 2020 (5 wins). The Bison fall to 7-11 3-6 PL with the setback.
Trailing 10-8, junior middle blocker
Lacey Murphy had a hand in the four straight blocks combining with teammates, sophomore outside hitter
KK Green twice, freshman middle blocker
Nora Benjamins, and freshman setter
Drew Flanagan which was part of five straight points to take control of the set. Sophomore outside hitter
Emma Sorensen's 21st kill of the match completed the fifth set comeback for the Crusaders.
Bucknell was led by Sidney Shaffer's 16 kills with six total blocks and four digs in the loss.
SET SCORES:
Crusaders 3, Bison 2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 15-13)
HOW IT HAPPENED:Â
- Four points in a row capped off by a sophomore middle blocker Kyla Harris block moved the hosts in the lead 15-13 at the media timeout. Bucknell rallied with a 12-4 run to win the first set to take a 1-0 match lead.
- Bucknell doubled up Holy Cross 4-2 early in the second set. Flanagan dished to Sorensen and Harris for kills to regain the lead at 6-5. Another Flanagan to Harris connection put the score at 15-13 at the media stoppage. Back-to-back kills from Shaffer in the late stages of the set put the guests down 22-21. A Flanagan ace and Sorensen kill clinched the 25-22 set win.
- Sophomore defensive specialist Elizabeth Hall placed an ace to increase the Crusader lead to 11-8 in the third set. An ace off the swing of Bucknell leapfrogged them back ahead 14-13. Still trailing by one, five straight Crusader points getting two aces off the serve of senior outside hitter Georgia Murphy moved the margin to four, 20-16 in favor of Holy Cross. The Bison came within one, 20-19, but Holy Cross scored four more points as Hall placed another ace. Harris wrapped up the set with a block for the 2-1 match lead.
- The Crusaders had a 7-3 lead in the fourth set after a Green mash from the outside. Trailing by four, 14-10, the Bison clawed back into the set on the strength of seven straight points to lead 17-14. Lacey Murphy and Flanagan combined for block to push their team back ahead 19-18. Bucknell closed the set outscoring the Crusaders 7-3 to send it to a fifth set.
- Trailing 7-3, a Harris solo block with a Sorensen ace trimmed the margin to 7-5. Junior defensive specialist Alana Whitwell entered the match to serve and helped her team earn two points, one off a Green swing and one ace as they were down 9-8. Bucknell had a 10-8 lead before the Crusaders defensive unit went to work late.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- The Crusaders four straight wins is their longest winning streak since recording six straight victories during the 2001 season (Aug. 31-Sept. 8).
- Sorensen double-doubled (21 kills, 10 digs) for second straight match, the 10th time in 2026 and 17th time in her career. She has four career 20+ kills performances with three coming in 2026.
- Hall's 32 digs were a new career-high. It was her eighth straight match with double-digit digs.
- Flanagan has 30+ assists in six straight games and it is her second 40+ assist showing.
- Harris has five consecutive matches of 5+ total blocks.
- Lacey Murphy (90.0 blocks) moved into seven place on the program's single-season block list passing her own mark of 86.0 total blocks set in 2025.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
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