Sydnee Peters Sets Career High as Loyola Volleyball Defeats Lafayette 3-1 to Complete Season Sweep
Sydnee Peters Sets Career High as Loyola Volleyball Defeats Lafayette 3-1 to Complete Season Sweep
By Brian Hradsky
October 23, 2026
The Loyola University Maryland women’s volleyball team completed its regular-season sweep of Lafayette College with a 3-1 victory Saturday, October 17, at Reitz Arena in Baltimore. Sydnee Peters recorded a career-high 15 kills, matching Ava Nepkin for the team lead, while Morgan Crawford added 12 kills to help the Greyhounds secure another important Patriot League victory. Loyola won by scores of 25-16, 27-29, 26-24 and 25-21, overcoming a difficult second-set defeat before closing out the match. The victory improved Loyola to 7-11 overall and 5-4 in conference competition, while Lafayette dropped to 6-13 overall and 0-9 in Patriot League play.
Loyola Opens Match With Dominant Offensive Performance
The Greyhounds established control during the opening set, using an efficient offensive attack to put Lafayette under immediate pressure. Loyola recorded 18 kills on 37 attempts with only four attacking errors, producing an impressive .378 hitting percentage. The Leopards managed 11 kills while hitting .235, but they could not match Loyola’s offensive production. The Greyhounds secured a comfortable 25-16 victory and appeared positioned to build on their recent success against Lafayette.
Loyola’s opening-set performance demonstrated the effectiveness of its balanced offensive approach. Rather than relying on one attacker, the Greyhounds created opportunities throughout their lineup and forced Lafayette to defend multiple positions. The team’s ability to convert scoring chances while limiting mistakes helped establish an early advantage. However, the Leopards responded with a much stronger effort during the second set.
Lafayette Responds in Dramatic Second Set
The second set developed into the most extended frame of the match as both teams battled beyond the standard 25-point finish. Lafayette increased its offensive production, recording 20 kills and a .267 hitting percentage during the period. Loyola answered with 14 kills and remained competitive, but the Leopards eventually secured a 29-27 victory. The result evened the match at one set apiece and forced the Greyhounds to regroup.
The narrow defeat represented an important test for Loyola because the Greyhounds had entered the match with momentum following their earlier victory over Lafayette. Losing a set by two points after extended play can create frustration, particularly when both teams have opportunities to finish. Loyola needed to maintain its offensive confidence while reducing mistakes during the following frame. The Greyhounds responded by winning another closely contested set.
Greyhounds Survive Crucial Third Set
Loyola regained the match advantage with a 26-24 victory during the third set, overcoming another competitive performance from Lafayette. The Greyhounds recorded 18 kills, matching their opening-set total, while the Leopards finished with 10. Loyola committed nine attacking errors during the frame, preventing the team from establishing a more comfortable advantage. However, the Greyhounds generated enough offense to win the decisive points and move ahead 2-1.
The third-set victory proved important because it restored Loyola’s control after Lafayette’s second-set comeback. Both teams had already demonstrated their ability to compete in extended sets, making execution during the closing points particularly significant. The Greyhounds finished the frame with a .196 hitting percentage but benefited from their stronger overall attacking volume. Loyola entered the fourth set needing one more victory to complete the season sweep.
Loyola Closes Match With Strong Fourth-Set Finish
The fourth set remained competitive as Lafayette attempted to extend the contest to a deciding fifth frame. The Leopards moved ahead 19-18 following a kill from Noa Kamphuis, placing Loyola under pressure late in the set. Nepkin and Elsie Afful responded with a block before a Lafayette attacking error and a kill from Addie Lowe gave the Greyhounds a 21-19 advantage. The three-point swing forced Lafayette to call a timeout.
Loyola maintained its momentum following the stoppage as Lowe delivered another kill to extend the advantage. Mariah Sanabia and Lowe then combined for a block, giving the Greyhounds a 23-19 lead and moving them within two points of victory. The sequence demonstrated Loyola’s ability to combine offensive execution with timely defensive plays during a critical stretch. The Greyhounds eventually completed the set 25-21 to secure the four-set victory.
Loyola’s fourth-set efficiency was among its strongest performances of the afternoon. The Greyhounds recorded 17 kills with only four errors on 34 attempts, producing a .382 hitting percentage. Lafayette finished with 12 kills and a .206 hitting percentage during the same period. The difference allowed Loyola to protect its late advantage and prevent another extended set.
Peters Delivers Career-Best Performance
Peters emerged as one of Loyola’s leading offensive contributors, finishing with 15 kills on 29 attempts and a .345 hitting percentage. The performance marked the first time in her collegiate career that she recorded double-digit kills. Her production matched Nepkin for the team lead and provided the Greyhounds with an important scoring option. Peters also contributed two blocks during the victory.
The career-high performance was particularly encouraging because it demonstrated Loyola’s ability to receive significant production from different players. Peters’ efficiency helped the Greyhounds maintain their offensive attack throughout the four-set contest. Her 15 kills represented an important milestone in her development and gave the team another dependable contributor. Continued performances at that level could strengthen Loyola’s attack during the remainder of conference competition.
Nepkin also delivered an outstanding all-around performance, recording 15 kills, 14 digs and three blocks. Her contributions were important both offensively and defensively, particularly during the closing stages of the match. Nepkin helped produce the critical fourth-set block that gave Loyola the lead for good. Her ability to contribute in multiple statistical categories provided valuable balance.
Crawford and Middle Attack Strengthen Loyola’s Offense
Crawford finished with 12 kills and 11 digs, giving Loyola another player with double-digit production in two important categories. Her contributions helped prevent Lafayette from concentrating its defensive attention exclusively on Peters and Nepkin. Crawford also added a service ace and a block during the match. The Greyhounds benefited from having three players record at least 12 kills.
Afful and Sanabia provided additional production from the middle of the court. Afful finished with 10 kills and six blocks, while the two middle attackers combined for 15 kills and a .481 hitting percentage. Their ability to score efficiently helped Loyola maintain pressure on Lafayette’s defense. The Greyhounds also received important contributions from Lowe, who finished with eight kills and participated in the decisive fourth-set scoring sequence.
Loyola’s balanced attack was one of the biggest differences between the teams. The Greyhounds finished with 67 kills compared with 53 for Lafayette, giving them a substantial advantage in offensive production. Loyola also recorded 10 team blocks while the Leopards finished with six. Those differences helped the Greyhounds overcome the second-set defeat and win the match.
Verdicchio and Monahan Direct Greyhounds’ Attack
Gabi Verdicchio led Loyola with 32 assists while also recording four service aces, the highest total of any player in the match. Her ability to distribute the ball allowed the Greyhounds to create scoring opportunities for several different attackers. Verdicchio also contributed nine digs, providing additional support defensively. Her performance helped Loyola maintain an effective offensive rhythm.
Madison Monahan added 23 assists and two service aces, giving Loyola another important contributor in its offensive system. Together, Verdicchio and Monahan recorded 55 assists, accounting for most of the team’s 62 total assists. Their distribution helped Peters, Nepkin and Crawford reach double-digit kills while allowing the middle attackers to contribute efficiently. The Greyhounds benefited from having multiple players capable of directing the offense.
Huber led Loyola defensively with 19 digs, helping the team maintain possession during extended rallies. Nepkin added 14 digs, while Crawford contributed 11 and Verdicchio finished with nine. Loyola totaled 65 digs compared with Lafayette’s 60, reflecting another narrow statistical advantage. The defensive effort helped the Greyhounds sustain rallies and create additional scoring opportunities.
Lafayette Receives Strong Performance From Mbeche-Odhiambo
Although Lafayette suffered another conference defeat, Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo delivered an impressive offensive performance with a match-high 19 kills. Her production helped the Leopards remain competitive, particularly during their extended second-set victory. However, Lafayette struggled to generate enough secondary offense to match Loyola’s balanced attack. Destiny McKenzie and Jada Aksu each added eight kills.
Mackenzie Calhoun contributed 23 assists and three service aces, while LK LaMonica added 18 assists. Alyssa Chu led the Leopards with 17 digs, and Johanna Groger recorded six blocks. Lafayette demonstrated its ability to challenge Loyola during extended rallies but could not maintain the same level of execution throughout all four sets. The Leopards finished with a .212 team hitting percentage compared with Loyola’s .281.
Loyola Completes Season Sweep of Lafayette
The victory marked Loyola’s second win over Lafayette in eight days, completing the regular-season series sweep. The Greyhounds previously defeated the Leopards in straight sets October 10, producing a season-high .322 hitting percentage. Loyola again demonstrated its offensive strength in the rematch, hitting .281 while generating 67 kills. The consecutive victories provided important momentum during the middle portion of the Patriot League schedule.
The Greyhounds have shown considerable improvement during recent conference competition. Loyola entered its upcoming weekend having won five of its previous seven Patriot League matches, reflecting a stronger stretch after a difficult beginning to the season. The team’s recent success has been supported by improved attacking efficiency and more consistent contributions throughout the lineup. Maintaining that balance will be important as the Greyhounds continue pursuing a favorable conference position.
Greyhounds Prepare to Host Colgate and Army
Loyola returns to Reitz Arena Friday, October 23, for a 6 p.m. matchup against Colgate. The Greyhounds will then host Army West Point on Saturday, October 24, continuing an important stretch of Patriot League competition. Both matches provide opportunities for Loyola to strengthen its conference record and build on its recent offensive improvement. The coaching staff will look for continued production from Peters, Nepkin, Crawford and the team’s middle attackers.
The upcoming matches will also test Loyola’s ability to maintain consistency against different defensive systems. The Greyhounds demonstrated strong offensive production against Lafayette but needed to survive two closely contested sets. Improving execution during important rallies could help prevent opponents from extending matches unnecessarily. Loyola will attempt to carry the momentum from its season sweep into another important conference weekend.
MSB Take
Loyola’s 3-1 victory over Lafayette was an encouraging performance because the Greyhounds demonstrated offensive depth and resilience during several difficult stretches. Peters deserves considerable recognition for recording a career-high 15 kills and producing her first collegiate double-digit kill performance. Nepkin matched her with 15 kills, while Crawford added 12 and provided additional defensive contributions. Having three players reach double-digit kills gives Loyola multiple options when opponents attempt to limit its leading attackers.
The biggest turning point came during the fourth set when Lafayette established a 19-18 advantage and threatened to force another extended contest. Loyola responded with timely blocks from Nepkin, Afful, Sanabia and Lowe, while Lowe also delivered important kills. That combination of defensive execution and offensive confidence allowed the Greyhounds to regain control. The team’s ability to respond after losing the second set and narrowly winning the third demonstrated important composure.
The season sweep provides Loyola with momentum as the Greyhounds prepare for another demanding Patriot League weekend. Their .281 hitting percentage and 67 kills demonstrated that the offense can produce consistently when the team maintains effective passing and distribution. However, the close second and third sets also showed that Loyola must continue improving its ability to finish important points. If the Greyhounds maintain their offensive balance and strengthen their late-set execution, they have an opportunity to continue climbing the conference standings.
