BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland led 20-17 in the fourth set on Friday night, but the U.S. Naval Academy scored five in a row to lead 22-20 and eventually close out the match in four, 25-22, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23, in the teams' Patriot League opener at Reitz Arena.
The Midshipmen (9-1 overall, 1-0 Patriot League) took a 10-2 lead early in the fourth on a Paige Buzzerio kill, but the Greyhounds reeled off eight-straight points to tie at 10-10 on a
Lauren Link kill.
Loyola took its first leadof the fourth at 12-11 with a
Caitlin Churney kill, and she then teamed with
Bryanne Soares for a block to make it a two-point Loyola (5-6, 0-1) advantage.
Rose McDermott served an ace for a four-point lead at 16-12, and a Link kill gave the Greyhounds a 17-13 lead.
Navy, however, came back to tie, 17-17, with a Jordan Llewellyn-Ava Toppin block, but Loyola sided out with a
Kennedy Stevens kill, and Link made it 19-17 with a kill. The Greyhounds then led, 20-17, after a Navy attack error.
The Midshipmen came back to tie on a service ace by Doris Nelson at 20-0, and a Greyhounds attack miscue pushed the lead to 22-20.
Loyola tied it two points later after a Link kill and a Churney-
Riley Hamilton block, and the Greyhounds then led, 23-22, following a Stevens ace, but Navy sided out with a service error, and Averi Miller tipped a kill to make it 24-23 Navy. Jordan Llewellyn closed the match with an ace for Navy.
Four Greyhounds had 10 or more kills, led by Link's 14. Churney had 11 kills and hit .455, while
Sophie Brenner and
Morgan Crawford each had 10.
Soares totaled a season-high 43 assists for Loyola and led the Greyhounds with 21 digs for a double-double. McDermott had 15 digs, while Link and
Leah Hunter each had 14.
Churney led the Loyola block with a season-best seven, two solo efforts.
Llewellyn had 15 kills for Navy.
