Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

JOLIET, Ill. – The Loyola University New Orleans volleyball team took a tough defeat to begin Saturday's action at the University of St. Francis' Big Dogs Classic, but the Wolf Pack bounced back and dominated the second match of the day to finish 2-2 on the weekend. First, St. Xavier defeated Loyola in straight sets, but the Pack took some frustration out on their next opponent by also winning in three sets over Aquinas College. 

 

Loyola is now 7-5 overall after three weekends of tournaments, and it'll travel to Middle Georgia State and Brewton-Parker College next weekend to begin Southern States Athletic Conference play. 

 

(RV) St. Xavier 3, (RV) Loyola 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21)

 

The Wolf Pack and Cougars played evenly to start the match, bringing the first set to an 8-6 St. Xavier lead. However, SXU pulled ahead, 16-8, thanks to an 8-2 run. Kills by Alicia Simmons and Emma Fahy, along with four St. Xavier errors brought the Pack to within five, 19-14, but the opponent pushed back ahead by eight with three straight points to grab control of the opening game. 

 

The second set was much closer, as Loyola took advantage of more SXU errors en route to a 6-3 start. Amaya Bazemore and Emily Sheperis recorded kills to make it a 12-9 Wolf Pack lead, then back-to-back service aces by Gracie Bailey and another attack by Sheperis gave them a 15-9 advantage. Again, though, St. Xavier used a run to get back into the game, scoring the next seven of nine points to make it a one-point Loyola lead, 17-16. Simone Tyson, Brittany Cooper and Fahy each found the floor on attacks, but the Cougars were still able to tie it at 20-all. Tied at 23-23, SXU scored the final two points to take a 2-0 match lead. 

 

Sheperis and Bazemore each notched three kills through the first eight points for the Pack, helping the team take an 8-5 advantage. Fahy got two kills after that, extending the score to 11-7, then a 5-0 run made it a 15-7 lead. Leading 18-12, however, St. Xavier won nine of the next 11 points, including a 6-0 run, to help seal the match.  

 

(RV) Loyola 3, Aquinas 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-17)

 

Cooper got things started for the Wolf Pack in the opening set, then five straight errors by the Saints gave Loyola a quick 8-4 lead. Tyson served an ace to make it a 10-5 game, and Bazemore notched her first kill to push the score to 11-6. With Bailey serving, the Pack ripped off five straight points to really grab control of the set, 16-7, and Cooper put the finishing touches with four more attacks. 

 

Thanks to the service game of Dallis Brown, Loyola started the second set just as hot. With an ace during that stretch, the Wolf Pack jumped ahead 7-1, then another ace by Tyson moments later made it a 10-3 game. Sheperis tallied two kills to keep the momentum on Loyola's side, and Kala Emanuelli, Bazemore and Cooper pushed the score to 21-11. Emanuelli added another attack and three more errors by Aquinas gave Loyola a 2-0 match lead. 

 

It was the same story but a different set in the third game, as Sheperis, Bazemore and Simmons, as well as an ace by Brown, put the score at 5-2 in Loyola's favor. More errors by the Saints and consecutive kills by Sheperis extended the advantage to 14-6, too. Leading 20-9, Aquinas tried to get back into the game, 22-14, but Emanuelli squashed any hopes with another kill and two more errors by the opposition clinched the match for the Pack. 

 

Wolf Pack Head Coach Jesse Zabal

"These past three weekends have probably been the toughest pre-season schedule we've had in the past six seasons, which was intentionally planned. With a few unexpected bumps in the road, we have been presented with plenty of opportunities to overcome adversity just in this beginning stretch. We're seeing really great things from our group, but still experiencing some challenging moments when it comes to finishing out plays and sets.


"One thing is for sure, Emily Sheperis really missed playing volleyball last weekend and made up for it in these four matches. Emily and Amaya Bazemore had some great opportunities to flourish against these opponents and it shows in how they helped us score points, both offensively and defensively. Brittany turned it on quite a bit in our final match against Aquinas and posted an incredible hitting percentage. We have plenty of season left to continue learning & growing, and we're looking forward to getting into our SSAC schedule."

Pack Facts

• After entering the top 10 in career blocks in the Wolf Pack record book on Friday, Emily Sheperis is now ninth with 204 total blocks. She had three between the two matches on Saturday.

• Sheperis and Brittany Cooper tied for the team lead with 15 kills each between Saturday's matches. 

• Cooper had her most efficient attacking performance of the season against Aquinas: 10 kills with just 17 attacks and one error for a hitting percentage of .529.

• Simone Tyson tied her career high with 20 digs against St. Xavier.

• Simone Moreau finished with 14 digs in each match. 

• Gabby Masiello led the team in assists in each match, with 14 against Aquinas and 13 against St. Xavier. 

 

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.