NEW BRITAIN, CONN. – The Holy Cross volleyball team picked up its first win of 2026 defeating nonconference opponent Siena 3-1 before dropping a five set 3-2 decision to Rhode Island during day two of the Central Connecticut Tournament Saturday afternoon.
The Crusaders move to 1-2 on the young season with the Saints falling to 0-2 and the Rams remaining undefeated at 2-0.
Across the three matches, freshman right side
Kat Teepe paced the squad with 49 kills (3.50 K/S) hitting .297 across 111 attack attempts in a very impressive collegiate debut weekend recording double-digit kills in all three contests. Sophomore outside hitter
Emma Sorensen recorded double-double showings in all three contests finishing the trio of matches with 48 kills (3.43 K/S), and 37 digs (2.64 D/S)
MATCH ONE SET SCORES:
Crusaders 3, Saints 1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-19)
HOW MATCH ONE HAPPENED:
- Trailing 2-1 early in the first set the Crusaders put together seven straight points as Teepe posted a pair of kills and junior setter Tuana Ozarpaci placed an ace for the 8-2 Holy Cross advantage. Siena cut into the Holy Cross lead pulling within one, 11-10. The Crusaders doubled up their counterparts 14 to 6 over the remainder of the set to take a 1-0 match lead.
- Holy Cross began the second set with a 4-0 edge. Siena took their first lead 14-13 off five straight points. Behind by one, 18-17 the Crusaders put up five in a row getting a kill and ace from Sorensen with three Teepe kills for the 22-19 edge. A block from freshman right side Sarahya College put Holy Cross on the brink of a 2-0 match lead. Siena forced extra serves and won the set 27-25.
- Down one in the crucial third set, Holy Cross outscored Siena 7-2 capped off by a sophomore middle blocker Isa Glover ace to jump ahead 9-5. The Saints pulled within a pair, 11-9 and the Crusaders kept attacking holding an eight point 20-12 advantage off the strength of a 9-3 stretch as Sorensen notched three kills and a block during the run. College produced the set winning kill from the right side.
- In the fourth set, Siena held an 8-4 lead early. Another Teepe kill brought Holy Cross within two, 10-8. Holy Cross forced Siena into a timeout tallying four straight kills off the swing of College, Sorensen and Teepe to lead 15-13. Following the timeout, Glover increased the lead to three, 17-14. Sorensen kept adding on points for Holy Cross with an ace for the 20-14 margin. Teepe's 20th kill of the match upped the score to 21-16.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- The Crusaders hit .286 in the match.
- Ozarpaci double-doubled for the first time in 2026 with a career-high 31 assists and 13 digs.
- Junior defensive specialist Alana Whitwell had a game-high 22 digs.
MATCH TWO SET SCORES:
Rams 3, Crusaders 2 (21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-16, 9-15)
HOW MATCH TWO HAPPENED:
- Ozarpaci set up Sorensen for a kill putting Holy Cross down 13-11. URI posted three straight markers to lead by five, 16-11. Another Sorensen kill brought the Crusaders within a pair, 21-19. Glover skied up for a block trimming the deficit to one, 22-21. The Rams recorded the final three points to take the first set.
- The Crusaders regained the lead in the second set after College's kill from freshman setter Drew Flanagan. Sorensen posted an ace during a stretch of three straight for the 16-14 edge. This was the start of a 7-2 Crusader scoring run to lead 20-16. Sorensen ended the set with two kills to tie the match 1-1.
- In the third set, sophomore outside hitter KK Green began a stretch of four straight Crusader points with a kill followed by a Sorensen kill and two Glover aces to lead 9-7. The Rams regained the advantage 14-11. Both squads traded the lead until the Rams were victorious 25-21.
- The Crusaders took a commanding 9-3 lead during the early stages of the fourth set. A Flanagan ace moved the score 13-5. Glover pushed her squad up 10, 17-7. The Rams scrapped back to pull within three, but the Crusaders scored the final six points to force a fifth set.
- Holy Cross led 6-2 in the fifth set before eight straight Ram points put them ahead 10-6. The Crusaders could only muster three more points in the set.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- The Crusaders had a strong service game versus the Rams posting 15 aces.
- Glover recorded a career-high four aces in the match while Sorensen and Ozarpaci notched three apiece.
- Sorensen was 35-for-35 in receptions during the match.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders are back in action when they head to New Haven (1-2) for a mid-week nonconference match on Tuesday, Sept. 1
- First serve is set for 6 p.m.
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