BALTIMORE – Lehigh University flipped the script Saturday by winning the third and fourth sets after Loyola University Maryland volleyball had won the opening two, but the Greyhounds hit .290, had three blocks and a service ace at a critical time to beat the Mountain Hawks, 25-20, 25-16, 18-25, 21-25, 15-12, in a Patriot League match.
The Mountain Hawks twice tied the fifth set but Loyola responded with sideout blocks, helping keep Lehigh (9-3 overall, 2-2 Patriot League) from taking the lead early in the deciding set.
Sydnee Peters locked up a solo stop on Lehigh's Mary Massias to give Loyola a 3-2 lead, and after the Mountain Hawks had tied the set at 4-4,
Ava Nepkin and
Elsie Afful blocked Massias to keep Loyola in front.
Lehigh would, however, go up at 7-6 and 8-7, but both times
Morgan Crawford had kills from the left side for Loyola to tie the match. After the second,
Madison Monahan pushed a set to Peters on the right, and she knocked down her career-high ninth kill to give Loyola a 9-8 advantage.
Peters and Afful then blocked Ufoma Omene, forcing a Lehigh timeout at 10-8.
The Mountain Hawks knotted the score again at 11-11, but
Gabi Verdicchio set Afful in the middle, and she came through with a kill to put Loyola back on top.
Afful had a game full of career-highs, posting 12 kills, eight total blocks, three service aces and 19.5 points.
Omeme came back with a sideout kill for Lehigh, but Crawford again put away a kill to give Loyola (4-8, 2-2) a 13-12 lead.
Sarah Tate then subbed in to serve and put away an ace, her first of the season, to give Loyola match point.
Addie Lowe delivered a right-side swing for a kill to cap the win.
Nepkin and Crawford both finished with double-doubles. Nepkin had a team-best 15 kills and 10 digs, while Crawford finished with 12 kills and a career-best 19 digs.
Addie Huber led all players with 20 digs, while Monahan (31) and Verdicchio (23) combined for 54 assists.
Peters finished with five blocks on top of her nine kills – both career-highs – while Nepkin added four blocks. Lowe's match-clinching kill was her ninth' of the day while hitting .368, and
Mariah Sanabia tallied six kills and three blocks.
