Box Score The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team battled with the Belhaven Blazers to earn a four set victory 25-10, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20. This marks the first home SSAC victory of the season for the Wolf Pack.
TUE, 10/01/2013
(New Orleans, La.) The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team battled with the Belhaven Blazers to earn a four set victory 25-10, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20. This marks the first home SSAC victory of the season for the Wolf Pack.
Loyola (4-13, 2-4 SSAC) eased through the first two sets, baffling the Belhaven defense with power hitting from sophomore Eva Allen who turned in a career high 16 kills. Sabrina Stansberry joined her in double digits with 13. Allen and Stansberry combined for five of the team's seven service aces on the night.
"Eva has improved over the last several matches, and tonight we got another impressive effort from her," said head coach Margot Frederick. "She played six rotations for the first time all year, and her discipline in controlling the ball was great to see."
Following intermission, the Wolf Pack started slow out of the locker room, opening the third set in an unthinking fashion. Loyola allowed Belhaven to steal a close third set, but recovered in the fourth with the aid of additional attackers. Sophomore Kaitlyn Mohr and junior Lauren Brand added eight kills apiece. Providing an extra offensive boost, senior Libby Collyer collected a career high five kills.
"This match gave us some validation," Frederick added. "We've made several adjustments to our lineups, so we needed the win to gain some confidence. The plan is to use that momentum this weekend against Bethel and Martin Methodist."
Belhaven (5-13, 0-6 SSAC) put up a fight to win the third set, but couldn't hang on in the fourth. Sophomore Taylor Hall led the Blazers with eight kills, while sophomore Chae Levy assisted with seven.
The Wolf Pack returns to The Den on Friday, Oct. 4 to host Bethel at 7 p.m. With October being domestic violence awareness month, the match will be dedicated to this cause.
