The Loyola University New Orleans Volleyball team continued its conference swing in Tennessee on Tuesday, taking on Martin Methodist College inside the Robert E. Curry Christian Life Center. Despite being down 1-0 to start the match, the Wolf Pack battled back to win three-straight sets to defeat the RedHawks 3-1 (17-25,25-23,25-23,25-21).
Loyola improves to 12-10 on the year and 4-4 in SSAC action with the victory. Martin Methodist drops to 4-18 overall and 3-5 in conference play following the loss.
The home team came out of the gate firing on the cylinders, jumping out to the early 10-4 lead in the first set. The Wolf Pack were unable to overcome the early deficit and dropped the first set 25-17.
Loyola capitalized on Martin Methodist errors in set two and took the early 7-2 advantage. Down 16-13, the RedHawks scored three-straight to cut the lead to 16-13 before the Wolf Pack answered with a 4-0 run to stretch the advantage to 20-13. Late in the set, Martin Methodist notched four-straight points to close the gap to 23-22. Loyola managed to hang on to the lead and a kill by Fr. MB Jordan Davis (Litchfield Park, Ariz./Millennium) off an assist by Fr. S Maddie Huekels (Dyer, Ind./Marian Catholic) gave the visitors the 25-23 victory in set two.
Both teams battled back-and-forth in the third set and the score read 7-7 early. The home team strung together a 4-0 run to take the 11-7 lead. Down 18-13, Loyola used kills from Sr. OH Eva Allen (Oakland, Calif./Head-Royce) and Jr. OH Wren Oversech (Austin, Texas/Austin) to close the gap to 18-17. Martin Methodist hung tough down the stretch, scoring two huge points late to cut the deficit to just one at 24-23. With the set on the line, So. DS Elizabeth Scioneaux (Reserve, La./East St. John) connected with Davis to seal the set for the Wolf Pack 25-23.
The fourth set proved to be the closest of the match, with both teams battling to five ties. With the score at 21-21, Loyola closed out the set on a 4-0 run to seal the 25-21 victory in the set and the 3-1 win in the match.
Huekels dished out 28 helpers and scooped up nine digs to lead Loyola.Allen collected a team-high 11 kills to go along with 13 digs, while Davischipped in 10 kills in the win.
The Wolf Pack return to The Den on Friday, Oct. 9, when they welcome league-leading Coastal Georgia for a match at 6:00 p.m.
