HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Holy Cross volleyball team almost pulled off a reverse sweep but was defeated in the fifth set falling 3-2 to Patriot League opponent Colgate Saturday on Cottrell Court.
The loss sends the Crusaders to 12-14, 5-8 on the year while the Raiders move to 11-11, 5-7 PL.
Sophomore outside hitter
Emma Sorensen double-doubled for the 12th time in 2026 and 19th in her career finishing with 14 kills and 10 digs. Junior middle blocker
Lacey Murphy hit .348 with nine kills and six total blocks while sophomore middle blocker
Kyla Harris added nine kills and a career-high nine total blocks.
The Raiders were led by Aubrey Anders (24 kills, 16 digs) and Tiana Owens (24 kills and 15 digs) double-doubles. They were two of four Colgate student-athletes who recorded double-double efforts.
SET SCORES:
Raiders 3, Crusaders 2 (18-25, 14-25, 28-26, 25-19, 10-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sophomore outside hitter KK Green and Harris combined for a dual block to push the Crusaders ahead 5-3 in the opening set. Trailing by one, the Raiders used an 8-2 burst to jump ahead 18-13. Freshman setter Drew Flanagan and Lacey Murphy skied up for a block to trim the deficit to two, 19-17. Colgate closed the set on a 6-1 burst to win the set 25-18.
- Colgate started off the second set producing four straight points. Over the next couple of serves, they outscored the Crusaders 6-to-4 to lead 10-4. Sorensen and Lacey Murphy blocked an attack attempt to pull their team within three, 13-10. From there, the hosts outscored Holy Cross 12-to-4 to take a commanding 2-0 match lead.
- The Raiders held a 13-7 lead in the third set. Down five, the Crusaders chipped away on the strength of a 9-3 run as Sorensen notched two kills and an ace. Facing match point, the Crusaders tied the score 24-24 when the Raiders served long. Colgate had their third match point until three straight Crusader points kills from Harris, Lacey Murphy and freshman middle blocker Nora Benjamins wrapped up the third set win.
- Trailing by one, 6-5, four straight from Holy Cross pushed them ahead 9-6 following kills from Lacey Murphy and Sorensen. The Raiders eventually leveled the set at 11 all. Holy Cross led 15-13 at the media timeout. Senior outside hitter Lily Eigner converted a pass from sophomore defensive specialist Savannah Baron for a kill then Lacey Murphy and Benjamins produced a block, Baron placed an ace and Eigner had another kill which was part of six straight points to lead 19-13. Colgate dropped the deficit to two, however a Sorensen kill regained the advantage to five, 22-17. The Crusaders sent it to a fifth set thanks for a block from Benjamins and Harris.
- The fifth set saw Colgate jump in the lead 6-2 in the early going. Eigner converted another kill pulling her team within three, 6-3. A Lacey Murphy kill and an attack error kept Holy Cross down three, 9-6 at the halfway point. Colgate expanded the lead to 13-6, however a Sorensen kill and two blocks from Harris put them down 13-10. The Raiders notched the final two points to stave off a reverse sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- Holy Cross produced a season-high 16 total blocks in the match.
- Harris has 5+ blocks in eight of her last nine matches. Her 82.0 total blocks rank 10th during a single-season in program history.
- Flanagan, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week double-doubled for the third time in 2026 with 34 assists and a career-high 20 digs.
- Baron's 22 digs were also a career-best.
- Lacey Murphy (107.0 total blocks) moved to second place on the all-time single-season total block list passing Christine Svitila (103.0, 1991) and Suzanne Giorgio (104.0, 1991). She has 196.0 total blocks in her career and needs nine more to move to 10th place on the program's all-time list.
- Benjamins' six total blocks were a personal-high.
UP NEXT:
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