Loyola hosted the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament in The Den Nov. 14 and 15.
In the first game, the fifth-seeded Belhaven Blazers played second-seeded Loyola. Loyola defeated Belhaven 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-13). Gina Gill, psychology freshman, had 14 kills and Mary Seals, accounting senior, had seven kills on the night. Sarah Howard, international business senior, had 29 assists.
Defensively for the Wolfpack (16-8), Keelyn Henderson, finance senior, dug out 14 Blazer attacks and Gill blocked two Belhaven attacks for Wolfpack points.
Loyola faced Spring Hill in the semi-finals. The ‘Pack won the match 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-16).
Gill led the ‘Pack attack with 10 kills in the match. Seals finished the match with eight. Howard assisted on 23 Wolfpack points. Howard and Kristie Hadley, sociology sophomore, each had a service ace.
Defensively for the Wolfpack (17-8), Henderson dug out 13 Badger attacks. Howard blocked five Badger attacks. General studies business freshman Lindsey Mullinix had four blocks.
Sarah Stacey led the Badgers offense with 10 kills. Sally Reese assisted on seven Badger points. Melissa Williams led defensively with 19 digs. Elizabeth Burkenstock blocked two ‘Pack attacks. Spring Hill finishes the season 15-23.
Loyola advanced to play the University of Mobile in the championship game.
Mobile captured the Championship, beating Loyola in straight sets, 20-25, 18-25, 17-25, ending the ‘Pack’s season and clinching the Rams a spot in the NAIA Tournament.
Seals, playing in her final Loyola match, and Gill each tallied a team high nine kills. Howard assisted on 23 Wolfpack points. Hadley had four service aces in the loss.
On the defensive end, Henderson led with 10 digs. Gill blocked two Ram attacks for points. Loyola finished the season 17-9.
The Rams (32-3) had three players with double figure kills. Whitney Knight led the way with 17 kills. Paula Stilkey added 13 kills with Syretta Baldwin dropping in ten. Mobile advances to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
“It’s a challenge to put on an event that lasts over the course of two days. We had matches on Friday, so that means that the staff was here from 1 to 9 o’clock. Then on Saturday the staff was here from seven in the morning to nine at night. Staffing the event is one of the harder things to do,” Associate Athletic Director Brett Simpson said. “But the advantage for our program is well worth it.”
Michael Dewey can be reached at [email protected].
