PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore outside hitter
KK Green posted a team-high 13 kills and a career-best 19 digs as the Holy Cross volleyball team defeated nonconference opponent Stonehill 3-1 Friday at the opening day of the 21st Friar Volleyball Classic hosted by Providence.
The win, the second in a row for the Crusaders moves them to 4-5 on the young season while the loss sends the Skyhawks to 2-7.
Green double-doubled for the third straight match for the Crusaders. Classmate and fellow outside hitter
Emma Sorensen double-doubled for the fifth time in 2026 recording 11 kills and 10 digs.
SET SCORES:
Crusaders 3, Skyhawks 1 (25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23)
HOW IT HAPPENED:Â
- Behind 7-4 in the opening set, Holy Cross scored five straight points when sophomore defensive specialist Elizabeth Hall set up Green for a kill making the score 9-7 Crusaders. The scoring stretch expanded to 9-2 as the Crusaders got blocks by junior middle blocker Lacey Murphy and freshman right side Sarahya College for the 13-9 edge. The Skyhawks came within three, 16-13, but Holy Cross produced four in a row following a sophomore middle blocker Kyla Harris kill to lead 20-13. Green clinched the set for Holy Cross at 25-17.
- Stonehill took an 11-7 lead early in the second set. Their lead expanded to five, 16-11 midway through the stanza. A 9-2 Crusader burst as freshman right side Kat Teepe and Lacey Murphy started the stretch with a block then another dual block this time from College and Harris put them in the lead at 20-18. Green's ninth kill of the match gave Holy Cross the 2-0 match lead.
- Trailing 6-4 in the third, the Skyhawks used a 12-3 outburst to jump ahead 16-9. A Green ace put her team behind by six, 22-16 late in the set. Two Stonehill mistakes combined with a Sorensen and freshman middle blocker Nora Benjamins block brought the Crusaders within four 23-19. Stonehill called a timeout and scored the final two points to win the set 25-19.
- The fourth set was back and forth early until the Crusaders jumped ahead 12-7 thanks to a Sorensen kill. Stonehill drew closer after a Crusader service error to trail 18-17. A freshman setter/right side Keira Mullen ace put Holy Cross in the lead at 20-17. Four in a row from Stonehill regained the lead towards their side at 21-20. Stonehill still had the lead 23-22, but Holy Cross got an attack error, a Green kill and a bad set to win match.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- Ozarpaci double-doubled in the match her second of the season with a team-best 15 assists and 12 digs.
- Holy Cross had the superior net presence finishing with 12 total blocks compared to three for Stonehill.
- Teepe and Lacey Murphy had 5+ blocks each. Murphy has 6+ blocks three times in 2026.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders end the 21st Annual Friar Volleyball Classic on Saturday, Sept. 11 against Manhattan (0-6) at 11 a.m. and Providence (5-1) at 5:30 p.m.
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