NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team took a break from Southern States Athletic Conference play Tuesday night, hosting the Xavier Gold Nuggets for a crosstown matchup in The Den. Xavier was able to end the six-game winning streak for home teams in the series, defeating the Wolf Pack in straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-18). 
 

The loss moves Loyola to 11-8 overall and it'll take its 4-2 SSAC record on the road this weekend at Blue Mountain College on Friday and at Stillman College on Saturday. 
 

Amaya Bazemore and Brittany Cooper got early kills for the Wolf Pack, but Xavier was still able to jump ahead 7-3 thanks to three attacks and a service ace. Emily Sheperis notched her first kill to end the Gold Nuggets' streak, however, they won a couple of more points to extend the advantage over the Pack to 13-8. Attacks by Preslie Boswell and Sheperis kept Loyola in it, 14-10, but again, Xavier pushed its lead to 17-10 shortly after that, eventually winning the opening game, 25-19. 
 

Simone Tyson recorded back-to-back kills in the early going of Set 2, also tallying a third two points later to give Loyola a 4-3 lead. Xavier went on a 6-1 run after that to take a 9-5 lead, then Loyola used four XULA errors to cut the score to 11-9. Another long run by Xavier made it a 20-11 advantage, as Loyola answered with a quick 4-0 run to keep the game close. Bazemore and Tyson found the floor on attacks during that run, and Bazemore had another kill a few points later to make it a 22-18 XULA lead. The Gold Nuggets, though, took a 2-0 lead in the match after the Pack made things interesting late in the game by cutting the score to 24-23. 
 

After the Gold Nuggets took an 11-3 lead in the third set, Tyson helped trim the lead, 11-6, with a kill and her serving ability. With Tyson serving, Cooper recorded an easy kill and Boswell and Bazemore teamed up on a block. Cooper added two more attacks and Sydney Love got her first kill, which made the score 14-9. Another run by Xavier, though, helped the visitors secure the match. 

Pack Facts

• Gracie Bailey notched her fourth double-double of the season in just the second set. She finished with 14 assists and 14 digs. 

• Amaya Bazemore, Brittany Cooper, and Simone Tyson each hit over .300 for the match. 

• Cooper led the team with 10 kills while hitting .375. It was her sixth match with double-digit kills this season, and her second-straight.

• Tyson was close to a double-double, putting up nine kills and 10 digs on a .333 hitting percentage. 

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