Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 In day two of the Dillard Classic, Loyola picks up two wins to move to 3-1 on the season
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team played their final two matches at the Dillard Classic today, taking down Jarvis Christian College 3-0 in the morning before battling with Dillard and winning three sets to one Saturday afternoon.
The Wolf Pack (3-1) opened up day two of the tournament with a matchup against Jarvis Christian College, claiming a tight first set 25-20. Loyola rolled through the remainder of the match, taking set two by a score of 25-11 before sealing the victory with a 25-9 set number three.
Against the tournament-host Dillard, the Pack took an early lead in the first set, a lead they would hold until the end and go up one set to none with a 25-19 win. In the second, Dillard took a six-point lead, up 11-17 before Loyola battled back to make it 23-24. The Bleu Devils would score the final point of the set however to draw the match even at 1-1.
The back-and-forth play continued into the third set, as the teams were even at 9-9. After Dillard took a 15-10 lead, the Wolf Pack took the game over, claiming 12 of the next 13 points to jump out in front 22-16. While the home team would climb their way back in and tie it up at 22-all, Loyola scored the final three points needed to take a two to one set lead over Dillard.
It was more of the same in the fourth set as neither team allowed the other to jump out to a significant lead. With the match on the line and the fourth set drawn even at 16-16, the Pack scored four straight to take the lead late before closing out the fourth set with a 25-22 victory. Grabbing their clinching third set, Loyola would defeat crosstown-rival Dillard to move to 3-1 on the early season.
The Pack will be back in action next weekend, as they take to the road for another tournament, this time playing in the UST Labor Day Tournament in Houston, Texas beginning Saturday, September 1st.
"Great start to the year! After yesterday's split we just wanted to start the day off strong and we definitely did that against Jarvis Christian. Maryka Zee and Champagne Cunningham did well attacking the ball for us, and Maddie Huekels and Sunni Blanchard ran a solid offense, spreading the ball well across all of our hitters."
"It was an exciting match against Dillard. Jordan Bernard had a great match, offensively and defensively as she had a double-double and three aces. Sunni, Maddie and Helene Masone had strong performances for us tonight as well. We're seeing so much potential from our entire roster and are excited to continue improving."
Pack Facts
The Pack's 3-1 start to the 2018 campaign is their best since 2012.
Freshman Jordan Bernard was stellar in both matches today, leading the way with nine kills in game one and 17 in game two.
The Austin, Texas native finished the day with a .203 attack percentage, adding five service aces and 19 digs.
Upperclassmen Sunni Blanchard and Maddie Huekels helped lead the charge offensively for the Pack, tallying 27 and 40 assists respectively.
You can keep up with the Pack this season by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
