The Loyola women’s volleyball team broke the .500 mark to clinch third in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference after defeating last place Dillard University in three games, 30-24, 30-19, 30-28.
“It was a team effort – everyone excelled in their role,” said head coach Tommy Harold.
The ‘Pack played consistent and clean with few errors against an out-manned, but aggressive, Dillard.
Loyola started the first game on a high note and quickly took the lead, which they maintained to the end. Mary Seals, accounting senior, struggled at points defensively but countered with eight kills in the game totaling 13 for the night. Last week’s National Athletic Intercollegiate Association Region XIII Setter of the Week, Sarah Howard, marketing senior, spread out the offense with precision sets and occasionally tipped the ball to throw off Dillard’s defense.
In the second game the ‘Pack put Dillard to the test with a barrage of firepower from hitters Colleen McNerney, psychology senior, and Seals. Leading from the beginning, Loyola extended the point differential to 15 at one point. Rachel Wise, psychology sophomore, came in for Howard and effectively took control of the floor.
“She did well… she gave us a little boost in the second game and did a nice job,” Harold said. Howard said Wise performed great in her first opportunity to run the floor completely on her own.
Dillard lost Tyrealle Reed to injury early in the third game forcing a situation without substitutes. Dillard got their first lead of the night briefly but Loyola chipped away at Dillard’s back line to regain. At the end Dillard tightened defensively and staged a comeback that failed by a narrow two points.
“Volleyball’s a momentum sport and the momentum can shift pretty quickly, but the girls were able to settle in, they didn’t go into a panic mode they just kept grinding away and got the win,” Harold said.
Danielle Posey, communications junior, had 13 kills for the night, although she struggle from the service line. Last week’s NAIA Region XIII Libero of the Week, Tiffany Stafford strengthened the ‘Pack’s defense with 15 digs.
Loyola plays Wesley College on Tuesday Oct. 2. They take on conference rivals Spring Hill to battle for third place in the conference on Oct. 9 at The Den.
