The Loyola women’s volleyball team had a seven-game winning streak end Tuesday by National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III school Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.
The match went five sets with Loyola (11-6) losing 30-22, 28-30, 30-15, 24-30, 11-15.
“Any loss is disappointing, whether it’s ending a seven game streak or losing 15 in a row,” head coach Tommy Harold said. “It’s not something you look forward to.”
In the loss, elementary education senior Amanda Gilliard had 15 kills and 12 digs. Laurie Cacioppo, management junior, and Ashley Cobette, general business junior, each added 10 kills.
Harold said that the theme of the week for the team was to take the Den, Loyola’s home court, on the road.
He said the team is trying to bring the quality of its play on the road up to par with its great home play.
“When you play on the road, it is certainly different. I didn’t feel like we played with a particular sense of urgency, which is important. We tended to let the game come to us instead of taking the game to them.”
Harold admitted the seven game win streak was nice but likes to point out a more important aspect of the streak.
“What’s more important right now (than the winning streak) is that form the seven wins, we are 4-0 in conference. That gives us a nice boost to come back and hit conference play a second time. A loss here (to Mississippi College) isn’t the end of the world,” he said.
Harold also noted that the last time his team played an un-Loyola-like game, it bounced right back. He is confident that the normal team will show up in the next match.
The Wolfpack will have that opportunity to bounce back Thursday and improved its road play when it faces Xavier in the Barn.
Before Mississippi College interrupted the winning streak, the ‘Pack won two home games last week in the Den.
On Sept. 30, Loyola faced Xavier and former coach Greg Castillo. Unfortunately, the drama was removed long before the game started when the team learned that Castillo could not make it to the match due to tonsillitis.
Accounting junior Shannon LaHaie led Loyola with ten kills in the 30-15, 30-18, 30-23 victory. History senior Suzi Ruiz added 14 assists and 14 digs.
Two days later, the ‘Pack beat Dillard in four grueling sets, 26-30, 30-23, 30-27, 30-26.
Gilliard had 16 kills and 18 digs; Ruiz had 39 assists.
“We played really well at home,” Harold said.
“We’re optimistic with the way the defense played against a bigger, stronger, faster team (Dillard). We were able to break them down with defense.”
Laurie Cacioppo, management junior, prepares to serve the ball in the Den against Xavier. The team is undefeated in GCAC play. (Pamela Howard)
