DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras women's volleyball team made the most of its opportunity on Friday, upsetting 14th-ranked Northwestern (Minn.), to extend its winning streak to seven, matching the best start for the Duhawks since 2008. Earlier, Loras collected its third sweep of the season, handing Monmouth its first loss of the year.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED - MONMOUTH
• The Scots hung with the Duhawks early, but a late 7-3 run by Loras solidified the first set for the Duhawks, 25-17
• With Loras leading 2-0 after a 25-18 win in the second set, the offense picked back up to the tune of nine kills, three of which came from the hands of Paige Griffith, the Duhawks' primary setter … Her knack at the net kept Monmouth off-balance and Loras in control

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED - NO. 14 NORTHWESTERN
• Both teams played a tightly contested first set, with neither side opening more than a four-point spread … The Duhawks' largest lead of the frame came at 13-9 after a kill by Kayla Kinney
• With the Eagles in front, 23-21, Loras quickly regained momentum with kills by Griffith and a service ace by Kinney
• Loras scored the last three points to win 26-24 thanks to two kills from Michelle Budden along with an attacking error by Northwestern
• The Duhawks carried the momentum into the second set and led from 4-3, aided in part by a 7-2 run that created a large enough gap to keep the Eagles nested
• Leading 21-14 in the third set, Loras conceded an 8-0 run to Northwestern that brought the Eagles back into contention and pushed the match to a fourth set
• The Duhawks' 8-3 run from 11-9 to 18-12 put all the pressure on Northwestern and it was too much to handle as Loras maintained its advantage, securing the upset, scoring eight of the final 13 points to win, 25-17

NOTABLES
• Loras finished with 23 combined service aces between the two matches, including 15 in the three-set sweep over Monmouth
• Griffith set career-highs in assists (50) and blocks (3)
• Kinney set a career-high in kills (16) and digs (14)
• Jenna LaCorte's four blocks against Monmouth resulted in a career best
• Sarah Lewis had herself a career day, marking all-time bests in kills (9), attack percentage (.160) and blocks (4)

POST MATCH INTERVIEW

 
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME - PAIGE GRIFFITH
Griffith joined in on the offensive attack, hitting .556 with six kills to go along with 19 assists in Loras' sweep of Monmouth

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME - KAYLA KINNEY
In the Duhawks' bid for an upset, Kinney provided the horsepower to fuel the victory, finishing with 16 kills and 14 digs
 
UP NEXT
Loras returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 8 with two matches at the its home invite. Play begins at 11 a.m. against Gustavus Adolphus before concluding at 3 p.m. against North Central.