ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Loyola University Maryland senior outside hitter Ann Ernst moved into sixth-place in career kills in Patriot League history on Sunday, but the Greyhounds lost in four at the U.S. Naval Academy, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20.
 
Ernst had a match-best 21 kills and hit .311 from the outside to move past American University's Karla Kucerkova and into sixth all-time with 1,548. The Chicago native is third all-time at Loyola.
 
Abby Hamilton finished with 15 kills, and Molly Jarvis added nine for the Greyhounds, but Maddi Sgattoni (14), Avery Stowell (13) and Amanda Montag (12) combined for 39 kills to buoy the Midshipmen (14-10 overall, 9-4 Patriot League).
 
Navy led early in the match with a first set win, but a Hamilton service ace made it 17-14 in the second set while the Greyhounds (12-16, 5-9) looked to even. The Midshipmen scored four in a row to go up 18-17 on a Melissa Carter kill, but later Ernst gave the Greyhounds a 23-21 advantage on a kill of her own.
 
A Loyola service error and a Navy ace tied the set at 23-23, forcing a Greyhounds' timeout. Jarvis and Hamilton had back-to-back kills out of the break, and Loyola claimed the second.
 
Navy trailed 14-11 in the third after a Hamilton kill, but the Midshipmen scored six-straight to take the lead for good in the frame. In the fourth, Jarvis put Loyola up 15-14 with a kill, but Stowell and Sgattoni had consecutive kills to get the Midshipmen in front, and they would not relinquish the lead.
 
Katie Forsythe led Loyola with 21 digs, while Ernst posted a double-double with 17 and Corinne Filograna added 14. Alaina Acchione dished out 29 Greyhounds assists, and Ashley Dwyer added 20.
 
Loyola continues Patriot League play Tuesday night with its penultimate regular-season game of the year at Lehigh University at 7 o'clock.