Box Score Friday's win over Faulkner moves the Loyola Wolf Pack to 2-0 in SSAC play
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team made it look easy Friday night in The Den, defeating Faulkner in straight sets (25-14, 25-22, 25-21) in its first home game in nearly five months.
Loyola is now 4-4 overall and 2-0 in Southern States Athletic Conference play, and it'll have a quick turnaround Saturday, hosting Middle Georgia State at 11 a.m. for another SSAC matchup.
Jules Mokry recorded Loyola's first three kills of the match, which helped the Pack take an early 5-2 lead. Faulkner cut the score to 8-6 a few moments later, but Loyola used a 10-0 run to push the score to 18-6. Kailyn O'Neal tallied a couple of kills to start the run, then Brittany Cooper and Mokry each found the floor on the attack to close the scoring spree. Camryn Costanza got in on the action, then Mokry finished the set, 25-14, to put Loyola up 1-0 in the match.
The Lady Eagles started the second set much better than the first, racing out to a 10-6 advantage. Faulkner held leads at 14-10, 17-11 and 20-14 before Loyola went on another run. The Wolf Pack scored the game's next seven of eight points to tie the second set, 21-21. O'Neal and Casey Aucoin each had back-to-back kills, then O'Neal ripped off three more kills consecutively to help bring the Wolf Pack back. Once Loyola took its first lead of the set, 22-21, a combination of O'Neal, Costanza and Mokry helped earn Loyola a 2-0 match lead.
Loyola finished off the sweep with a 25-21 third-set win, but the game was close in the early going. There were three ties before Loyola took a 5-4 lead, pushing the score to 13-6 before the Lady Eagles made a run to cut the lead to 14-12 seven points later. The Wolf Pack never relinquished the lead, though, using kills from O'Neal and Mokry to extend the score to 21-17. Mokry added her 12th and final kill, Helene Masone served an ace, and the Lady Eagles had two attack errors to seal the match in Loyola's favor.
"We are so incredibly proud of the mental fortitude these ladies showed tonight. They continue to prove to themselves and to each other that, no matter the circumstance, they will fight alongside each other to win matches. Kailyn (O'Neal) picked up her offensive game tonight and made some great attacking choices, Helene had another solid performance and posted strong dig numbers, and Casey absolutely owned the service game. We have a lot of goals to accomplish this year, and this was another small step in the right direction. We are grateful for every chance we get to compete this year and look forward to getting back to it tomorrow morning."
Pack Facts
Friday's win was Loyola's first victory over Faulkner since Sept. 13, 2013.
It's the third straight season Loyola has started SSAC play with a 2-0 mark.
Kailyn O'Neal notched 13 assists and 10 kills to earn her sixth double-double of the season. Friday's 10 kills is a season-high for the junior.
Jules Mokry recorded a team-high 12 kills, and that's the third time this season in double figures for the freshman.
This week's SSAC Defender of the Week, Helene Masone, led the Pack with 19 digs, the third-most of the season for the senior.
Brittany Cooper was second on the team with 11 digs, and the opposite hitter has had double-digit dig games in seven of the season's eight games.
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.
