WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ann Ernst had a career-high 27 kills, and Katie Forsythe posted 36 digs on the defensive end, for Loyola University Maryland, but host American University slipped past the Greyhounds in a five-set contest, 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-27, 15-9, on Tuesday night.
 
Ernst improved upon her previous best of 26 kills set in this year's season opener against Furman University. Tonight's match was the 13^th of her career, and this this season, in which Ernst has had 20 or more kills.
 
Forsythe led three players in double-figures in digs – Corinne Filograna had 14 and Ernst logged a double-double with 10 – as she had a season-high 36.
 
Abby Hamilton added 12 kills, and Molly Jarvis returned to action with 10 to go with three blocks. Adara Kellogg had a team-high five blocks, while Alaina Acchione and Ashley Dwyer had 27 and 24 assists, respectively.
 
American (14-7 overall, 7-1 Patriot League) built a 20-16 lead in the fourth set on a Olivia Wassner service ace, prompting a Loyola timeout. Out of the break, Kellogg had a kill and then teamed with Cecylia Guye for a block to cut the Greyhounds' deficit to two.
 
The Eagles, however, scored three of the next four points to get within two of winning the match before Jarvis sparked a Loyola run with a kill. She then had a block with Dwyer, and Ernst registered a kill to close the gap to 23-22 before a Greyhounds attack error gave the Eagles match-point.
 
A Dwyer-Kellogg block, followed by kills by Kellogg and Hamilton, however, swung the set in favor of the Greyhounds, forcing the deciding fifth.
 
In the fifth, Hamilton put Loyola (10-12, 3-5) in front 9-8 with a kill, but American scored the last seven points to win the match.
 
Loyola is back home on Friday to host Alumnae Night at 7 o'clock against Colgate University in Reitz Arena.