Some teams like being at home, some teams perform well under pressure and the Loyola volleyball team loves playing at the Faulkner University Volleyball Tournament.
Over the weekend, the women improved their overall record at the tournament to 21-1, while repeating as tournament champions.
Three members of the Wolfpack gained All-Tournament Team honors. Communications senior Maggie Schaefer, history junior Suzi Ruiz and marketing sophomore Shannon LaHaie all made the All-Tournament team for their performances.
According to Ruiz, the team’s quality of play during the tournament was very important.
“I’m very excited we played as a team for the entire tournament,” she said.
In the first match of the tournament, the ‘Pack cruised to a three-game win over Georgia Southwestern, 30-18, 30-22 and 30-25. Schaefer led the way with 16 kills and 32 digs. Education junior Amanda Gilliard pitched in 25 digs.
In the late match of the evening, the Wolfpack continued its dominance with another straight game victory over Brenau College, 30-25, 30-16, 30-26. Schaefer led the team in kills and digs, with 14 and 26 respectively. Management senior Krista Danos added 21 digs in the victory.
“We knew we had to go up there and prove a point because it was regional and conference competition,” Ruiz said. As the sun rose on Saturday, the ‘Pack faced four games to repeat as champions and to make their point.
Early in the day, the team continued its clean sweep of the tournament with straight game wins over Georgia Southwestern and Faulker.
The Wolfpack disposed of Georgia Southwestern, 30-10, 30-19 and 30-21. Loyola shot down the Lady Eagles, 30-22, 30-23 and 30-24.
In the semi-final match-up, the Lady Eagles came looking for revenge but only found disappointment. The ‘Pack lost its first and only game of the tournament but went on to win the match, 30-24, 25-30, 30-20 and 30-22. Schaefer once again led the team in kills with 18 and in digs with 34. LaHaie tacked on 15 kills.
In the championship match, the women cruised to victory against Freed-Hardeman, 30-25, 30-27 and 30-27. Ruiz dished out 44 assists and recorded 13 digs.
The weekend wins pushed the ‘Pack’s current winning streak to 16 games. The current streak breaks the previous record of 15 games held by the 2001 volleyball team, who went on to win the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and advance to nationals.
According to Ruiz, the tournament was a way for the team to prove that they could compete at a high level.
“We wanted to prove we are a better team than last year, and I think that we did that,” she said. The Wolfpack will take its 22-5 record on the road this weekend when the team travels to Jackson, Miss.
Mississippi College will do battle with the ‘Pack at 3 p.m. and later in the evening will take on Millsaps College at 7 p.m.
Sunday, the team will return to the Den for the last regular season home game against West Alabama University at 4 p.m.
