Loyola Volleyball Pushes First-Place American to Five Sets Before Falling in Dramatic Finish
By Brian Hradsky
Final Score: American 3, Loyola Maryland 2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-27, 25-16, 15-10)
BALTIMORE, Md. — Loyola University Maryland nearly delivered one of the biggest upsets of its Patriot League volleyball season Wednesday night, pushing first-place American University to five sets before falling 3-2 at Reitz Arena. The Greyhounds took a two-set-to-one advantage and held a late lead in the deciding frame, but the Eagles rallied to escape with another conference victory. Despite the disappointing result, Loyola demonstrated its ability to compete with the league’s top team throughout a demanding five-set contest.
The loss dropped Loyola to 7-16 overall and 5-9 in Patriot League play, while American improved to 18-5 and 13-1 in the conference. The Eagles entered the match atop the league standings, making Loyola’s performance particularly noteworthy. The Greyhounds finished with 16 team blocks and six service aces, creating problems for an American offense that ultimately relied on its superior attacking production to secure the victory.
Loyola Battles Back to Take Control
American opened the match with a 25-22 first-set victory, establishing an early advantage behind its offensive efficiency. Loyola responded with one of its strongest attacking performances of the evening in the second set, recording 16 kills against just one attacking error. The Greyhounds hit an impressive .455 in the frame and claimed a 25-22 victory to even the match. That offensive turnaround helped shift the momentum toward the home team.
The third set became the turning point in Loyola’s bid for an upset, as the Greyhounds fought through a tightly contested finish to secure a 27-25 victory. American recorded 16 kills in the set, but Loyola’s defensive pressure helped force 10 Eagles attacking errors. The two-point win gave Loyola a 2-1 match advantage and put the conference leaders in an unfamiliar position. With one more set victory, the Greyhounds could have delivered a significant late-season statement.
American answered emphatically in the fourth set, producing 19 kills while committing only two attacking errors. The Eagles hit .548 during the frame and pulled away for a 25-16 victory, forcing the decisive fifth set. Loyola struggled to contain American’s increasingly effective attack as the visitors regained their offensive rhythm. The momentum shifted again, setting up a dramatic conclusion.
Fifth-Set Lead Slips Away
Loyola appeared positioned to complete the upset when Ellie Joffe and Abbie Lowe combined for a block that gave the Greyhounds a 6-3 lead in the fifth set. American responded with four consecutive points to move ahead 7-6, but Morgan Crawford delivered a kill to tie the score. Ava Nepkin and Joffe then combined for another block, putting Loyola ahead 8-7 as the teams switched sides. The Greyhounds continued to match the league leaders point for point.
After American tied the set at eight, Crawford produced another kill to give Loyola a 9-8 advantage. The Eagles responded with two points before Nepkin delivered a kill that tied the score at 10-10. Unfortunately for the Greyhounds, American scored the final five points to claim the set 15-10 and complete the comeback. Loyola’s offense finished the deciding set with four kills and seven attacking errors, a difficult conclusion to an otherwise competitive evening.
Crawford, Nepkin and Afful Lead Loyola Offense
Loyola received balanced offensive contributions from Morgan Crawford, Ava Nepkin and Elsie Afful, who each finished with 12 kills. Sydnee Peters added nine kills, giving the Greyhounds four productive attacking options against American’s defense. Nepkin also contributed five blocks and 10 digs, providing valuable production across multiple phases of the match. The collective effort helped Loyola remain competitive despite American holding a 72-56 advantage in total kills.
Joffe delivered one of the evening’s most impressive individual defensive performances, recording a career-high nine blocks. Afful and Nepkin each contributed five blocks, while Lowe added four as Loyola established a 16-8 advantage in team blocks. That defensive presence helped compensate for American’s stronger overall hitting percentage. Loyola finished the match hitting .194 compared with American’s .269.
Addie Huber anchored Loyola’s back-row defense with 20 digs and also contributed four service aces. Gabi Verdicchio recorded 24 assists and 10 digs, while Madison Monahan added 21 assists. The Greyhounds finished with 61 digs and 52 assists in a match that required sustained contributions throughout the lineup. Their defensive effort repeatedly extended rallies and challenged American’s attacking options.
American’s Offensive Firepower Makes the Difference
American’s Elise Sterling delivered a match-high 22 kills while hitting .450, providing the Eagles with a reliable offensive weapon during crucial stretches. Carly Sciborski added 16 kills, and Prinzez Zeck contributed 12 while hitting an impressive .579. Setter Deniz Dakak directed the offense with 56 assists and added 16 digs. Those performances allowed American to overcome Loyola’s strong blocking and take control during the final two sets.
The Eagles finished with 72 kills, 68 assists and 69 digs, surpassing Loyola in all three categories. American’s fourth-set offensive explosion proved particularly damaging, but its ability to execute under pressure in the final moments ultimately determined the outcome. The Eagles demonstrated why they entered the contest as the Patriot League leaders. Loyola, however, made them work for every advantage.
MSB Take: Encouraging Performance Despite the Loss
Loyola’s five-set defeat illustrates both the program’s potential and the challenges it continues to face in closing out competitive matches. Taking a 2-1 lead against a conference opponent with just one Patriot League loss showed that the Greyhounds can challenge the strongest teams on their schedule. Their 16 blocks and balanced attacking production provided clear positives. Unfortunately, offensive inconsistency in the fourth and fifth sets prevented Loyola from finishing the upset.
The most encouraging aspect of this performance was Loyola’s ability to respond after losing the opening set and then withstand American’s pressure in the third. Joffe’s career-high blocking performance and the contributions from Crawford, Nepkin and Afful provide a foundation for the team’s remaining matches. Improving late-set execution will be essential, especially against opponents capable of producing extended scoring runs. The Greyhounds have demonstrated that they can compete with the Patriot League’s best, but turning competitive performances into victories remains the next challenge.
What’s Next for Loyola?
Loyola returns to action Sunday, November 8, when it hosts Navy at 2 p.m. in another Patriot League matchup. The contest provides an opportunity for the Greyhounds to rebound from Wednesday’s difficult finish and build on their defensive success. With the regular season nearing its conclusion, every conference match carries additional importance. Loyola will look to translate its encouraging performance against American into a victory over the Midshipmen.
