Box Score The Wolf Pack got pushed to five sets Thursday at Florida College, but Loyola held on for its sixth conference win of the season
TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team started its weekend road trip with a five-set win over Florida College Thursday (25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 26-28, 15-10), improving its Southern States Athletic Conference record to 6-1.
Loyola, which is 8-5 overall this season and winners of six of the last seven games, will take on Brewton-Parker at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Mount Vernon, Georgia.
The Wolf Pack started Thursday's match by winning the first two sets 25-22 and 25-19. The Lady Falcons, however, answered by winning the next two games 25-19 and 28-26 to force a deciding fifth set.
In the opening game, Emily Sheperis and Jules Mokry got things started for the Wolf Pack, then Casey Aucoin added back-to-back kills to put Loyola up 10-9. Moments later, Jordan Bernard, Brittany Cooper and Sheperis scored three straight points and Kailyn O'Neal gave the Wolf Pack a 17-14 advantage. After Florida College tied the set 18-18 with its service game, Mokry had four kills in the final five points to give the Wolf Pack the edge.
Loyola started Game 2 with kills from Bernard, Sheperis and Cooper before O'Neal served up an ace to take a 9-6 lead. Mokry got her first kill of the set, then Sheperis made it 15-10 with her second kill of the game. Finally, Cooper, Sheperis and Mokry finished off the set with kills for the last three points, all assisted by O'Neal.
After the Lady Falcons tied the match with back-to-back set wins, Loyola raced out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth game behind two kills each from Mokry and Sheperis. Mokry continued to dominate, notching three more kills before Sheperis finished the match with a kill for the 15th point.
"I am so immensely proud of our team. We got on a 7 a.m. flight this morning and fought it out in a five-set match tonight. They played some really great volleyball. Florida College is always a tough opponent and always makes for an interesting match. Jules Mokry and Emily Sheperis both had a phenomenal night of attacking. Gracie Bailey and Kailyn O'Neal continue to share the load of running our offense while also playing very strong defense for us. We're excited to see the continued growth of our team, both physically and mentally, and we are so grateful for each opportunity we get to compete."
Pack Facts
Jules Mokry's team-high 17 kills tied a season-high for the freshman.
Emily Sheperis added 15 kills, and it's the freshman's fifth game this season with at least 12 kills.
Kailyn O'Neal's 28 assists were the most for the junior since she recorded a career-high 47 on Feb. 11 against Dillard. O'Neal also had game-high 19 digs to notch her ninth double-double of the season.
Gracie Bailey had a double-double, too, tallying 22 assists and 17 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
Brittany Cooper also had her fifth double-double of the season with 16 digs and 10 kills.
Jordan Bernard's 11 digs tied the sophomore's career-high.
Dallis Brown and Milabella Vasquez each had 11 digs to make six players in double figures for digs. Brown's 11 were a season-high as well.
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