HATTIESBURG, Miss. – WCU was all business, as they swept Loyola University in the SSAC Game of the Week and defeated Louisiana Christian in straight sets Saturday afternoon at the Ben Waddle Complex.
 
Carey got off to a great start in the first set, opening with four kills, two blocks, with three errors by Loyola adding in WCU taking an early 9-2 lead. After back-to-back points by the Wolfpack to break the run. The Lady Crusaders seized control of the set behind six straight kills from Sofia Bettini, Maurin Reyes, and Zoie Mitchell with a block by Bettini and Mitchell to pull away to a 16-4 advantage. Loyola managed to cut the deficit to six at 21-15, but would get no closer, as WCU closed the set on a 4-0 run with a kill by Bettini clinching the set.
 
Set two was remarkably different than the first set with the largest lead being three and both teams taking turns with the lead. It was Carey that held that three-point lead on a couple occasions with the last coming at 9-6.
 
A kill and two attack errors by WCU allowed the Wolfpack to tie the set at nine and from there the battle was on, as there were nine lead changes eventually leading to the set being tied at 23 all. With the momentum hanging in the balance. The scale was tipped in favor of Carey, as an attack by the Wolfpack gave WCU the first chance at match point. The Lady Crusaders did not waste the opportunity, as Natalie Bartholomew came through with the kill to give Carey the 2-0 lead.
 
Set three saw much of the same as the previous set with Carey taking an early 10-6 lead and Loyola quickly erasing the deficit before going on to take a 19-16 advantage. Just like early in the second set when Carey committed a couple of errors it was the Wolfpack this time with the errors and a kill by Alyssa Portee tying the set at 19.
 
LU quickly retook the lead with back-to-back kills but the same sequence as before put the Lady Crusaders back in front 22-21. Both teams traded points with Loyola having the first chance at match point but a block by Bartholomew and Agnes Hegardt kept Carey alive. The Wolfpack picked up the next point to have another chance at match point, but the Lady Crusaders offense held strong with Portee clinching the set and the match with back-to-back kills.
 
In their second match of the day. The Lady Crusaders and Wildcats went back and forth at start but with Carey leading 5-4, a 7-1 run propelled WCU to a 12-5 lead. It was all Carey from there, as they pulled away to a 16-7 advantage before going on to take the set 25-13.
 
The Lady Crusaders carried that momentum into the second set taking an early 13-6 lead. With WCU leading 14-8, Carey recorded four straight kills and back-to-back blocks to take their largest lead of the set at 12 before going on to take the set 25-16 and a 2-0 lead.
 
LCU came out swinging in set three securing the first five points of the set. The Lady Crusaders quickly regained their footing behind kills from Emerald Owens and Portee, two aces by Hegardt, and a block to tie the set at five.
 
A kill by LCU broke the run but Carey followed with five straight points to take a 10-6 lead. The Wildcats countered with a 4-1 run to cut the deficit to one. It looked as if the Lady Crusaders had pulled away for good with a 7-2 run, but the Wildcats again battled their way back to within two at 18-16. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance, but Carey slowly pulled away for good with a kill by Mitchell sealing the win.
 
The Lady Crusaders return to action Friday, October 3, as they head to Blue Mountain, Miss. to take on Blue Mountain Christian in SSAC action. Play is set to begin at 6:00 pm at Tyler Gymnasium.