Box Score The Loyola Wolf Pack dropped a three-set contest to William Carey Friday, snapping a five-game winning streak in the process
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team will have to start a new winning streak after Friday's loss to William Carey, falling to the Crusaders in straight sets (25-22, 27-25, 25-22) in a close match at home. The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for Loyola, moving its record to 10-6 overall and 8-2 in Southern States Athletic Conference play. It now sits a half-game back of William Carey and Mobile, each sharing first place with 9-2 records in conference play.
Loyola will host its final home game of the season Saturday, welcoming Blue Mountain College to The Den at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Behind the serve of Brittany Cooper, Loyola jumped out to an early 10-3 lead in the opening set. Jordan Bernard, Emily Sheperis and Jules Mokry all recorded kills during that stretch, and Bernard and Mokry each added another kill to push Loyola's advantage to 12-5. Behind two attacking errors by the Wolf Pack and four kills from Crusader hitters, William Carey came back to tie the set 12-12 before taking the lead for good, 17-16. Carey pulled ahead 22-18 a couple of points later, and an ace by Gracie Bailey cut WCU's lead to 23-21. The Crusaders, however, finished off the set to take a 1-0 match lead.
The second set featured 22 ties and five lead changes, as neither team could take a lead larger than two before the game was tied for the 10th time, 15-15. William Carey started to build a lead from there, taking a 19-15 advantage with three kills and an attacking error by the Wolf Pack. Loyola, though, fought back to tie the set at 22-22 after two kills from Mokry and a kill each from Casey Aucoin and Sheperis. Back-to-back attacking errors from WCU pushed Loyola ahead 24-22, but the Crusaders scored the final five of six points to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Wolf Pack raced out to another big lead in the third set, taking a 6-1 lead behind back-to-back aces from Kailyn O'Neal. A kill by O'Neal pushed the Wolf Pack ahead 10-4, then Aucoin and Cooper got in on the action to take a 13-5 lead. Again, William Carey fought back to tie the game at 13-13 before the Crusaders took the lead for good, 16-15. Trailing 22-17, the Wolf Pack cut the deficit to 23-21 behind Mokry and Sheperis kills, but the Crusaders ended the match by scoring the next two of three points.
"Tonight was tough. We have to be 100 percent on to play against a team like William Carey, and, unfortunately, that didn't happen. There were moments of greatness, but we struggled to find consistency offensively. Jules had another strong night leading in kills and Helene played incredible defense for us. We now move our focus to tomorrow's match and keep pushing."
Pack Facts
Helene Masone's digs streak continued against the Crusaders, totaling 22 for her 29th straight game in double figures.
Jules Mokry had 10 kills in the three sets Friday, making it four straight games with at least that many. The freshman now has 10 or more kills in seven games this season.
Kailyn O'Neal and Gracie Bailey shared setting duties, as O'Neal recorded a team-high 14 assists to Bailey's 13.
O'Neal also led the Pack with five service aces, which is a season-high for the junior. No Wolf Pack player has had more than four in a match this season either.
Casey Aucoin notched three block assists Friday, marking the third straight game with at least three.
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
