Final Stats

FAIRFAX, Va. - Loyola University Maryland volleyball used a late third-set run to overcome Hampton University in four, 25-23, 22-25, 27-25, 25-16, Friday evening in the opening match of the George Mason Classic.

The Pirates (2-9 overall) had set-point with a 24-23 third-set lead after a Lena Washington kill, and an opportunity to take a 2-1 advantage in the. Stacey Kazalas and Molly Jarvis, however, sided out for the Greyhounds with a block, knotting the match at 24-24.

Ashley Kozer then had one of her career-best seven kills to give Loyola (6-5) a one-point advantage, 25-24. Minutes later, the Greyhounds went up 2-1 in the match, taking the second set, 27-25, on a Hampton attack miscue.

The Pirates jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set behind three Washington kills, but a setting error and three-straight attack errors by Hampton tied the score at 7-7.

Kelci Dixon and Lena Reed-Petracek had a block for the Pirates to give them an 8-7 advantage, but Corri Waters had a kill, followed by a service ace for Loyola, to spark a 7-1 Greyhounds rally that would put them in command of the set, 14-9, after a Hampton attack error.

Hitting errors continued to plague the Pirates in the frame as three in a row stretched the Loyola lead to nine, 20-11. Twice thereafter, Hampton rallied to within seven, 20-13 and 22-15, but the Greyhounds closed out the match with kills by Kozer and Stacey Kazalas in the final three points.

The Greyhounds held Hampton to a .156 hitting percentage, including a .029 mark in the final two sets.

Six Greyhounds hitters had five or more kills in a balanced offensive attack, led by Haley Puddy's team-high 11. Kazalas added 10, while Ann Ernst had eight and Kozer chipped in seven. Kazalas had a double-double with 11 digs, and Molly Jarvis posted six kills and six total blocks.

Elena Scarano had a match-high 16 digs for Loyola, and Kozer had 23 assists to go with her seven kills.

Washington led all players with 17 kills for Hampton, and Reeana Richardson contributed 15.

The Greyhounds return to action on Saturday when they face Charlotte University at 1:30 p.m. in the George Mason Classic. Loyola closes the weekend with a 7 p.m. match against the host Patriots.