Box Score The Wolf Pack are now 2-1 in conference play with two road games set for this weekend
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack were handed their first Southern States Athletic Conference loss of the season Wednesday night, as the William Carey Lady Crusaders won in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 26-24) to drop Loyola to 2-1 (7-10 overall) in league play.
William Carey jumped out with an early 10-2 lead in the opening game, then held on for the 25-18 win to take the 1-0 match lead. Loyola battled back to cut the Lady Crusaders' lead to 19-17 at one point in the set, but the visitors hung on for the win.
The second set featured a closer game from the start, but William Carey was able to push ahead later in the set to win 25-19. Leading by one, William Carey strung together five straight points to take a 19-13 lead, and it never let Loyola get within three points for the rest of the set.
In the third set, neither team could grab a two-point or more lead early, as the game featured nine ties and five lead changes until William Carey took the game's first two-point lead, 11-9. The two teams would trade the lead four more times before the Lady Crusaders finished off the match with a 26-24 third-set win. Loyola had two set-clinching opportunities to force a fourth set, but William Carey scored four straight to finish off the match.
The Wolf Pack hits the road this weekend for two conference games in Georgia. First, they'll play Middle Georgia State Friday at 5 p.m. CST, then Loyola will make the short trip to Brewton-Parker for a Saturday match at 1 p.m. CST.
"We unfortunately just did not play our best tonight. There were very critical moments where we made errors and just allowed William Carey to go on some point runs. We will stay focused on our goals and continue to prepare for upcoming matches.
"Malea Howie reached a great milestone tonight with her 1,000th career kill. We're very proud of the work she's put in to achieve this while at Loyola, and we know she'll tab quite a few more through the remainder of the season."
Pack Facts
In the third set, senior outside hitter Malea Howie recorded her 1,000-career kill. She had nine kills in the match, which gives her 1,003 kills in her Loyola career and puts her 16 kills away from breaking into the Top 10 in school history.
Brittany Cooper led the Pack in kills for the 10th-straight match, recording 11 to go along with six digs and two service aces
Sunni Blanchard notched her fourth double-double of the season, tallying 12 assists and 11 digs
With a team-leading 13 assists and 10 digs, Gracie Bailey also recorded the fourth double-double of her freshman season.
