Box Score The Loyola Wolf Pack improved their conference record to 4-1 Thursday night, defeating Florida College in straight sets
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team made quick work of Florida College Thursday in The Den, moving its conference record to 4-1 with a straight-sets win (25-15, 25-20, 25-23) over the Lady Falcons.
Loyola is now 6-5 overall this season, and the Wolf Pack will finish a five-game homestand Saturday when they host Brewton-Parker at 3:30 p.m.
The Wolf Pack got six kills in the early going of the first set, jumping out to a 10-6 lead en route to a 25-15 set win. After Florida College got to within two, 10-8, Jordan Bernard tallied back-to-back kills to extend the score to 13-8. The Wolf Pack held at least a four-point lead for the rest of the set, and Jules Mokry finished off the opening game with two late kills.
Loyola got off to another hot start in Set 2, taking a 7-2 lead after a couple of blocks from Casey Aucoin, two kills from Bernard and another kill from Brittany Cooper. Aucoin, Mokry and Bernard each found the floor to push Loyola's lead to 11-7, then Emily Sheperis and Kailyn O'Neal got in on the action to make it a 16-10 lead. Cooper tallied back-to-back kills and Aucoin got her second of the set to fend off the Lady Falcons' late run, 21-16. Bernard and Sheperis each had two kills to close out the set, 25-20, and help the Wolf Pack grab control of the match, 2-0.
The dramatics were saved for the third and final set, as the Wolf Pack fought from behind to finish the sweep with a 25-23 third-set win. Loyola started the third set with a 5-0 lead, but the Lady Falcons clawed back to tie the set at 11-11. The Wolf Pack, again, fell behind, but Cooper tied the game at 17-17 with another kill. The Plano, Texas, native then got two more kills to put Loyola back on top 20-19, and Aucoin extended the score to 22-19 moments later before she finished the match with two more attacks in the final three points.
"It was great to get another home and conference win tonight. Brittany had a strong game, both offensively and defensively. Kailyn and Gracie continue to spread the ball to all of our attackers and Jordan, Casey, and Emily were very efficient on offense. Florida College made some smart adjustments that challenged us a bit in the third set, but we're proud of the team's fight and focus to finish the match in three. We're looking forward to one more home match on Saturday before we start the second half of our conference schedule."
Pack Facts
Brittany Cooper used a season-best .400 hit percentage to collect a team-high nine kills. Cooper also led the Wolf Pack with 11 digs.
Emily Sheperis and Jordan Bernard each had eight kills to help Loyola's diverse attack. Casey Aucoin and Jules Mokry added six kills each as well.
Helene Masone was second on the team with 10 digs, marking the 26th straight game with double-digit digs.
Gracie Bailey and Kailyn O'Neal both reached double figures in assists in the same match for the 9th time this season. Bailey had 13 and O'Neal had 15.
It's the second straight season Loyola has started SSAC play 4-1. Prior to last season, Loyola hadn't accomplished that feat since the 2010 season.
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.
