Loyola Volleyball Sweeps Lafayette Behind Season-Best Offensive Performance
By Brian Hradsky
EASTON, Pa. — The Loyola University Maryland women’s volleyball team delivered its most efficient offensive performance of the season Saturday, October 10, sweeping Lafayette College in three sets during Patriot League competition. The Greyhounds defeated the Leopards 25-22, 25-13 and 25-23, recording a season-best .322 hitting percentage. Loyola combined strong attacking, timely defensive plays and balanced contributions to secure an important conference road victory.
The victory provided a strong response for Loyola following Friday’s four-set loss to Holy Cross. The Greyhounds entered Saturday looking to regain momentum after struggling to finish sets against the Crusaders. Loyola accomplished that goal with a significantly improved offensive performance, controlling much of the match against Lafayette.
Crawford Leads Efficient Loyola Attack
Morgan Crawford led Loyola offensively with 12 kills while committing just one attacking error on 26 attempts. Crawford finished with a .423 hitting percentage, providing the Greyhounds with a reliable offensive option throughout the match. Her performance helped Loyola maintain pressure on Lafayette while limiting the mistakes that can derail close conference contests.
Mariah Sanabia delivered one of the most impressive individual performances of the afternoon, recording a career-high .727 hitting percentage. Sanabia converted eight of her 11 attacking opportunities into kills without committing an error. Her efficiency through the middle created additional problems for Lafayette’s defense and contributed significantly to Loyola’s season-best team hitting percentage.
Elsie Afful also contributed an efficient performance, recording two kills on three attempts without an attacking error. Sanabia and Afful combined for 10 kills on 14 attempts, producing a remarkable .714 hitting percentage. Their ability to capitalize on opportunities demonstrated the effectiveness of Loyola’s middle attack against the Leopards.
Ava Nepkin added nine kills and a team-high 10 digs, making important contributions on both sides of the court. Nepkin’s offensive production provided another attacking option, while her defensive work helped Loyola extend rallies and create additional scoring opportunities. Gabi Verdicchio directed the offense with a match-high 20 assists, helping the Greyhounds maintain an effective offensive rhythm.
Loyola Takes Control in Opening Set
The opening set featured competitive early exchanges as Lafayette attempted to establish momentum on its home court. The Leopards moved ahead 6-5 before Loyola responded by scoring five of the next six points to take a 10-7 advantage. That stretch proved important because the Greyhounds never trailed again during the match.
Loyola maintained its advantage throughout the remainder of the opening frame despite Lafayette keeping the score close. The Leopards continued to challenge the Greyhounds, but Loyola’s attacking efficiency helped prevent a late comeback. The Greyhounds secured the first set 25-22, establishing the momentum they would carry into the second.
Greyhounds Dominate Second Set
Loyola delivered its most convincing set of the afternoon in the second frame, overwhelming Lafayette 25-13. The 12-point margin reflected the Greyhounds’ ability to turn their offensive efficiency into a commanding advantage. With Crawford, Sanabia and Nepkin contributing to the attack, Loyola moved within one set of completing the sweep.
The Greyhounds’ balanced offensive production made it difficult for Lafayette to focus its defensive attention on one attacker. Verdicchio helped distribute opportunities, allowing Loyola to take advantage of several effective attacking options. The result was a convincing second-set victory that placed the Leopards under significant pressure entering the third.
Loyola Holds Off Lafayette to Complete Sweep
Lafayette produced a stronger challenge in the third set, attempting to extend the match and avoid a straight-set defeat. The Leopards remained competitive throughout the frame and pushed Loyola into another close finish. However, the Greyhounds maintained their composure and secured a 25-23 victory to complete the sweep.
The third-set victory highlighted Loyola’s ability to execute in important moments after establishing an early advantage in the match. Unlike Friday’s defeat against Holy Cross, the Greyhounds finished the contest without allowing their opponent to force an additional set. Loyola’s improved offensive consistency ultimately made the difference.
Victory Strengthens Loyola’s Patriot League Campaign
Saturday’s result represented an encouraging turnaround for Loyola following its 3-1 defeat at Holy Cross the previous evening. Crawford had recorded 10 kills and 15 digs in that loss, but the Greyhounds struggled to match the Crusaders’ consistency. Against Lafayette, Loyola improved its attacking efficiency and finished the match in the minimum three sets.
The Greyhounds entered the weekend navigating a competitive Patriot League schedule in which individual matches can influence conference positioning. Their ability to respond to Friday’s disappointment with a road victory demonstrated the importance of maintaining consistency throughout league play. Loyola will look to build on its offensive success as the conference schedule continues.
MSB Take
Loyola’s .322 hitting percentage is the biggest takeaway from Saturday’s victory because it demonstrates how effective this offense can be when the Greyhounds limit attacking mistakes. Crawford provided dependable production, while Sanabia’s career-best performance gave Loyola a tremendous advantage through the middle. The combination of balanced attacking and effective distribution from Verdicchio made the Greyhounds difficult to defend.
The next challenge for Loyola will be maintaining this level of efficiency against stronger defensive opponents. The Greyhounds have demonstrated that they possess multiple players capable of producing significant offensive numbers, but consistency remains essential throughout Patriot League competition. If Loyola can replicate Saturday’s performance, the team should have an opportunity to build momentum during the remainder of its conference schedule.
