NEW ORLEANS – The William Carey volleyball team fell 3-1 to Loyola University on Friday night at The Den.
The Crusaders battled throughout the opening set, overcoming multiple deficits and staying within striking distance at 13-12. Loyola, however, used a 5-0 run to create separation and never looked back, securing a 25-18 victory in the first set.
The Wolf Pack carried that momentum into the second set, racing out to a 12-4 lead before extending their advantage to 17-6. William Carey was unable to recover as Loyola controlled the remainder of the set and claimed a 25-14 win to move within one set of the match victory.
Facing elimination, the Crusaders delivered their strongest performance of the night in the third set.
Alejandra Villarreal sparked the offensive surge, while
Agnes Hegardt,
Alyssa Portee, and
Sofia Bettini also contributed key kills during a decisive 14-6 run to open the frame. William Carey maintained control throughout the set, cruising to a 25-16 victory to extend the match.
The fourth set featured tight, back-and-forth action with neither team able to gain complete control. Villarreal continued her standout performance, while
Emily Martin and
Reagan Ziegler added crucial points to keep the Crusaders within striking distance. Each time William Carey threatened to seize momentum, Loyola responded to maintain a narrow lead. The Wolf Pack ultimately closed out the match with a 25-22 victory in the final set.
William Carey returns to action Saturday to wrap up the regular season against Xavier University. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Convocation Center.
