Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Pack will face Cumberland and host Xavier on Saturday to close out the tournament.
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team faced a tough challenge on the first day of competition, dropping to 0-2 after falling in their first two matches at Xavier University's Early Bird Invitational.
To start the day at Xavier's Convocation Center, the Wolf Pack took on NAIA No. 5-ranked Viterbo University, last year's North Star Athletic Association champion, falling 3-0.
The Pack went toe-to-toe with the 2018 NAIA National Championship semifinalists in the first set, with the score tied up eight times before the 10th point was reached for either side. The V-Hawks pulled away late, taking the first set 25-13. The next two periods followed a similar pattern, with the score remaining close at the start, but Viterbo gaining momentum late to win by scores of 25-17 and 25-18.
In the second match of the day, Loyola faced last year's Sun Conference champions, Coastal Georgia, in another 3-0 decision. The Pack got out to a fast start, gaining the first four points of the match, but the Mariners ended up with the set victory 25-22. The second frame was also close, with the score tied at 22 late, but once again it ended 25-22 after three-straight Coastal points. The Mariners carried over momentum from the previous sets, winning the final period 25-18.
Loyola will return to the Convocation Center tomorrow, where they will face Cumberland at 2 p.m. before closing out the tournament against the host and last year's GCAC champions Xavier at 6 p.m.
"We knew this weekend would be tough, especially starting out with a top ranked team, but we pushed the girls to focus on us, to be confident in our preparation, and remember to play for each other."
"We saw some really great things from our young players, which is very encouraging as we progress in the season and as we continue to build this program. We had a few freshmen standouts today in Brittany Cooper & Dallis Brown. Brittany was a strong attacker for us against Coastal Georgia and Dallis kept a lot of plays going with some great digs."
"We were able to learn a lot about ourselves today, and we're looking forward to two more opportunities for growth tomorrow."
Pack Facts
Four Loyola newcomers saw their first action as members of the Wolf Pack on Friday, with freshmen Casey Aucoin, Gracie Bailey, Dallis Brown, and Brittany Cooper each playing in every set during the two matches.
Cooper had the best hitting day of anyone on the team, with 20 total kills through the two matches. She had 13 kills against Coastal Georgia on a .300 hitting percentage to go along with 8 digs.
Brown was also strong in her debut, adding 20 digs against the Mariners
Bailey and Sunni Blanchard each reached the double-digit assist mark in game two, Bailey with 15 and Blanchard with 14.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
