Loyola Maryland Volleyball Falls to Holy Cross in Four Sets Despite Third-Set Comeback
By Brian Hradsky
The Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds women’s volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat against the Holy Cross Crusaders on Friday, October 9, at Hart Center Arena in Worcester, Massachusetts. Loyola battled back to capture a tightly contested third set after dropping the opening two frames, but Holy Cross regained control in the fourth to secure the Patriot League victory. The Crusaders won by scores of 25-20, 25-19, 25-27 and 25-17, improving to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The loss dropped Loyola to 5-11 overall and 3-4 in the Patriot League.
Loyola Starts Strong but Holy Cross Takes Opening Set
Loyola established an early advantage in the opening set, building a 16-12 lead before Holy Cross began mounting a comeback. The Crusaders responded with a 7-2 scoring run to move ahead 19-18, taking advantage of timely serving and improved defensive execution. Holy Cross middle blocker Kyla Harris delivered consecutive service aces during the rally, helping shift momentum toward the home team. Although Loyola briefly tied the score, the Crusaders claimed the final five points to secure a 25-20 victory and take a 1-0 lead.
The Greyhounds struggled to maintain their offensive rhythm throughout the opening frame, recording 11 kills against nine attacking errors for a .054 hitting percentage. Holy Cross also recorded 11 kills but committed just five attacking errors, allowing the Crusaders to maintain greater offensive efficiency. Emma Sorensen delivered the decisive kill to close the set, establishing herself as an important offensive contributor for Holy Cross. Loyola needed to improve its ball control and attacking consistency after allowing an early advantage to slip away.
Crusaders Extend Advantage in Second Set
Holy Cross carried its momentum into the second set, jumping ahead 4-0 before Loyola could establish its offense. The Crusaders later used another four-point run to extend their advantage to 15-8, receiving contributions from several attackers and a service ace by Elizabeth Hall. Loyola continued battling and eventually narrowed the deficit to 22-19, giving itself an opportunity to challenge for the set. However, Holy Cross captured the final three points, including an important block by Harris and Kat Teepe, to secure a 25-19 victory.
Loyola showed modest offensive improvement in the second set, finishing with 12 kills and a .105 hitting percentage. However, the Greyhounds continued struggling to limit attacking errors, committing eight during the frame. Holy Cross maintained its advantage through stronger blocking and more consistent offensive execution, leaving Loyola facing a two-set deficit. The Greyhounds needed a significant turnaround to avoid losing the match in straight sets.
Greyhounds Rally to Win Dramatic Third Set
Loyola delivered its strongest performance of the evening in the third set, showing the determination necessary to extend the match. The Greyhounds trailed 19-18 before producing a 5-1 scoring run to take a 23-20 advantage. Holy Cross responded by fighting off set point and tying the score at 24-24, creating a tense finish between the conference opponents. After the teams reached another tie at 25-25, Loyola scored the final two points to secure a 27-25 victory.
The third set also featured Loyola’s most efficient offensive performance, with the Greyhounds recording 15 kills and just five attacking errors for a .256 hitting percentage. That improvement allowed Loyola to challenge Holy Cross despite the Crusaders producing 19 kills and hitting .378 during the same frame. The Greyhounds demonstrated improved execution in crucial moments, particularly after allowing the home team to erase their late advantage. Winning the set provided Loyola with an opportunity to complete a comeback and force a decisive fifth frame.
Holy Cross Pulls Away in Fourth Set
Loyola appeared ready to build on its third-set victory when the Greyhounds established an early 5-3 lead in the fourth. However, Sorensen responded with consecutive service aces to help Holy Cross move ahead 7-5 and regain momentum. The Crusaders later produced an 8-1 scoring run to build a commanding 19-10 advantage, putting Loyola in a difficult position. Although the Greyhounds attempted another comeback, Holy Cross maintained control and finished the set with a 25-17 victory.
Loyola’s offensive struggles returned during the final frame, as the Greyhounds committed 12 attacking errors while recording only nine kills. Their negative .081 hitting percentage represented their least efficient performance of the evening and made it difficult to sustain scoring runs. Holy Cross capitalized on those mistakes while continuing to generate defensive stops at the net. The Crusaders completed the four-set victory with a block by Drew Flanagan and Lacey Murphy.
Ava Nepkin and Morgan Crawford Lead Loyola
Ava Nepkin paced Loyola’s offensive attack with a team-high 13 kills, providing an important scoring presence throughout the match. Morgan Crawford contributed a double-double with 10 kills and 15 digs, demonstrating her ability to contribute offensively and defensively. Sydnee Peters added nine kills, while Elsie Afful led the Greyhounds at the net with five total blocks. Their contributions helped Loyola remain competitive during stretches of the contest, particularly in the third set.
Defensively, Addie Huber recorded a match-high 26 digs and contributed three service aces, helping Loyola extend several rallies against the Crusaders. Gabi Verdicchio finished with 21 assists, while Madison Monahan added 19 as the Greyhounds distributed their offensive opportunities. Despite those individual performances, Loyola struggled with attacking efficiency and finished the match with a .086 hitting percentage. The Greyhounds recorded 47 kills and 34 attacking errors on 151 attempts, illustrating the offensive inconsistency that ultimately prevented them from completing the comeback.
Holy Cross Controls the Net
Holy Cross received an outstanding performance from Sorensen, who finished with a match-high 17 kills, eight digs and two service aces. Teepe contributed 11 kills and seven total blocks, while KK Green added eight kills and a .278 hitting percentage. Harris matched a career high with eight total blocks, helping the Crusaders establish a significant advantage defensively. Their production allowed Holy Cross to maintain pressure on Loyola throughout the four-set contest.
The Crusaders finished with 14 team blocks compared with nine for Loyola, a difference that proved particularly important during the decisive moments. Holy Cross also recorded 49 kills, six service aces and 64 digs while limiting its attacking errors to 18. The Crusaders finished with a .238 hitting percentage, significantly better than Loyola’s .086 mark. Their combination of blocking, efficient attacking and timely scoring runs ultimately secured the Patriot League victory.
Loyola Looks to Regain Momentum in Patriot League Play
The defeat represented another setback for a Loyola team attempting to establish consistency during the conference portion of its schedule. The Greyhounds have demonstrated the ability to compete with Patriot League opponents, including a four-set victory over Navy earlier this month. However, their difficulties sustaining offensive efficiency have made it challenging to turn competitive stretches into complete match victories. Friday’s loss highlighted the importance of reducing attacking errors and maintaining defensive discipline against conference opponents.
Loyola followed the Holy Cross match with a trip to Lafayette on October 10, where the Greyhounds earned a 3-0 victory to split their weekend road trip. The Greyhounds are scheduled to host Lafayette in a rematch on October 17 at Reitz Arena in Baltimore. That contest provides another opportunity to improve their Patriot League position as the conference schedule continues. Loyola will need more consistent attacking and stronger net play to build momentum during the second half of the regular season.
MSB Take
Loyola’s loss to Holy Cross was frustrating because the Greyhounds demonstrated that they were capable of competing with the Crusaders, particularly during the third set. Nepkin and Crawford provided productive offensive performances, while Huber delivered an impressive defensive effort with 26 digs. However, Loyola’s 34 attacking errors and inability to consistently finish sets proved costly against an opponent that entered the match with just one Patriot League victory. The Greyhounds must improve their offensive efficiency if they hope to climb the conference standings.
The encouraging development was Loyola’s ability to respond after falling behind two sets, demonstrating resilience and the willingness to fight through difficult circumstances. Nevertheless, winning a single set is not enough when the team continues struggling to execute during crucial stretches. Loyola’s subsequent victory over Lafayette provided a positive response, but the Greyhounds must demonstrate that they can maintain that level of play against stronger conference opponents. Improving ball control, limiting unforced errors and generating more consistent blocking will be essential as Loyola continues its Patriot League schedule.
Sources: Loyola University Maryland Athletics, official match box score, Holy Cross Athletics and Loyola’s 2026 volleyball schedule.
