DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras women's volleyball team showcased their defense on Tuesday night, handing Central a 3-0 inside the Athletic & Wellness Center. Despite not having a single player reach double-digits in kills, the Duhawks used a balanced offensive attack and a stingy defensive front to win their third conference match of the year.

Tuesday's first set consisted of both teams responding to the other, resulting in a closely contested game. Central (12-11, 1-4 IIAC) used three three-point rallies throughout the set, but were unable to fully pull away. Every time the Dutch went on a run, Loras was right there to swing the momentum pendulum back in their favor.

Trailing 23-22, a timeout from Head Coach Jenna Ness sparked a three-point rally for Loras (15-10, 3-2 IIAC), finishing off the set one victory with a kill from junior Danni Kennedy. Both teams combined for 25 kills in the opening set, but it was the Duhawks accurate attack that proved to be the difference as they committed just two errors compared to Central's four.

After surrendering the first point of the second set, Loras went on an eight-point rally to take a commanding lead early on. Central came right back with a rally of their own, scoring five straight and forced a timeout from the Duhawks in the process. As the set wore on, Loras kept the pressure on, reeling off runs of four and three points down the stretch highlighted by kills from freshman Jenna LaCorte, senior Liz Jendra, and junior Therese Schultz.

The Duhawks finished set two with a .171 attack percentage and forced the Dutch into committing 10 attacking errors to just eight kills.

Nearing their eighth three-set sweep of the season, Loras kicked their defense into high gear, limiting Central to only three kills in set three and forced nine attacking errors.

Trailing 5-4 early in set three, Loras came out of the Central timeout and ripped off eight straight points to take the 13-5 lead. The Duhawks owned the momentum the rest of the way and refused to give an inch to let the Dutch back into the match. Loras closed out the set and earned the sweep with late kills from Schultz.