Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Wolf Pack volleyball team started their season Friday by going 1-1 at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Volleyball Classic
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team kicked off the 2021-22 athletics calendar Friday, as the team played two matches at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Volleyball Classic.
In the first match of the day, the Wolf Pack took down a ranked opponent for the first time in head coach Jesse Zabal's tenure, defeating No. 22 Madonna University 3-1. Loyola fought hard in the following match, but lost a tough five-setter to Life Pacific University.
The Wolf Pack will return to the courts early Saturday morning in West Palm Beach to take on two Florida schools: St. Thomas at 7 a.m. and No. 20 Keiser at 9 a.m. central time.
Loyola 3, No. 22 Madonna 1 (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22)
Loyola opened the match scoring three consecutive points on Kailyn O'Neal's serve, setting the tone for what would be a comfortable first set win. The Wolf Pack held their opponents to a team hitting percentage of .000, eventually capturing the opener 25-19.
Madonna scored the first four points of Set 2, a frame much closer than the first, before Loyola came back to tie it 8-8. Later, while down 23-22, Loyola strung together three-straight points, a kill and ace from Simone Tyson and the finishing kill from Brittany Cooper, to put the Wolf Pack up 2-0.
Beginning the third set with three kills by Brittany Cooper, the game's points leader, Loyola took an early 3-1 lead in the third period. The set would belong to the Crusaders, however, as they registered their best hitting percentage of the match, .415, in the third. The Wolf Pack responded with their most efficient attack in the fourth set, .295, which was crucial in clinching the match as Loyola won the final set 25-22.
Life Pacific 3, Loyola 2 (25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 16-25, 15-6)
The script flipped in the second match of the day, as Loyola dropped the first two sets. The Wolf Pack actually led 8-4 early in the opening period, but the team was outscored 21-10 afterward. The lead belonged to the Pack for most of Set 2, but the Warriors inched their way back into it, taking the lead late and seizing victory for a 2-0 match lead.
Momentum shifted after the second set, and Loyola bounced back to dominate the next two, 25-17 and 25-16, and tie the match at two sets apiece. Simone Tyson recorded five kills in the fourth set to help mount the comeback, and Preslie Boswell notched four in the next set to force the decisive Set 5. Life Pacific quickly regained that momentum in the fifth, however, as they jumped out to an 8-1 lead and halted the Wolf Pack comeback hopes.
"I am extremely proud of our team's effort and grit today. They were very excited to get on the court and prove that the work they put in during fall camp would translate to competition in a positive way. Newcomers Simone Tyson, Simone Moreau, and Preslie Boswell showed up in big ways for us today and our returners remained steady and led well. Getting a win against a Top 25 team is something we've been working towards the past four years, so we are very proud of that accomplishment. We're looking forward to two more tough matches tomorrow."
Pack Facts
This is the first time the Loyola volleyball team has defeated a ranked opponent since Jesse Zabal was named head coach prior to the 2017 season.
Making her Wolf Pack debut, Simone Tyson racked up kill-dig double-doubles in both matches. Against Life Pacific, she had a game-high 14 kills to go along with 12 digs and two service aces.
Also making her Wolf Pack debut while playing libero, Simone Moreau recorded 16 digs against Madonna and 24 against Life Pacific, both team-highs.
All three newcomers who played on Friday contributed big numbers, as Preslie Boswell was second on the team with 12 kills against Life Pacific.
Kailyn O'Neal registered double-doubles in both matches: 23 assists, 11 digs against Madonna and 22 assists, 16 digs against Life Pacific. She also had the highest assist total on the team in both matches.
Brittany Cooper led the way against Madonna, as she had 16 kills on a .318 percentage, securing her first double-double of the season with 10 digs and two aces as well.
The SSAC's leader in hitting percentage last season, Emily Sheperis recorded double-digit kills while hitting above .300 in each match.
Gracie Bailey added a double-double in the second contest of the day, tallying 13 assists and 11 digs.
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.
