Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

Mar. 20, 2021 - The No. 15 Loras College women's volleyball team (6-2, 5-2 A-R-C) hosted the No. 12 Coe College Kohawks (7-1, 7-1 A-R-C) at Lillis Court Saturday for their final home match of the season. The Duhawks entered today's match riding high on their highest ranking in program history with the release of the American Volleyball Coaches' Association poll on Wednesday. Krystal Tranel posted a season-high three aces at the service line for the Duhawks but Coe claimed the victory in four sets (22-25, 28-26, 14-25, 22-25).

The match got off to a solid start for the Kohawks who went on a six-point run but a kill from Wilgenbusch spoiled the attack. Two more points were added in favor of Loras with two straight errors from Coe's Madi Parson to cut the Duhawks' deficit to three. Loras kept pressing offensively, cutting the lead to two on a three-point run that was jump started by American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week Jade Casper who put down a kill assisted by Sara Hoskins that was followed by a Coe error. A Hoskins service ace brought the score to 10-8. Coe continued to push forward but a Kate Tidman service error put a point on the board for Loras and brought Tranel to the service line, who put a perfect serve down for her first service ace of the match. Another Coe error added the third point of the run to take the score to 16-12 in favor of Coe. Loras grinded throughout the entirety of the set, outscoring the Kohawks 9-3 to come back from an eight-point deficit to trail by only two at 23-21 but Coe fought off the rally to take set one 25-22. 

Set number two saw the Duhawks take an immediate 3-0 lead with Lyndsi Wilgenbusch getting things going on a kill assisted by Hoskins that was followed by a Kohawks attacking error. A-R-C Defensive Player of the Week Jackie Alberto rounded out the three-point run with a kill of her own but Kate Tidman put Coe on the board to end the run. After a pair of points scored by the Kohawks, Loras again went on a three-point run that saw a pair of errors and a Casper kill bring the score to 6-2. The Duhawks continued the pressure to take a six-point lead later in the set after scoring four straight brought the score to 12-6. Coe responded by scoring four back to come within two of the Duhawks but Wilgenbusch added one more to the lead with another kill on the day. The Kohawks kept the set tight, scoring the game up at 17-17 after scoring two straight but Casper gave Loras the lead once again with a kill. The end of the set saw the two nationally ranked teams battle back and forth with the score tying nine more times, forcing the set into extra points where a three-point run at the end of the set put the Duhawks over the Kohawks with a 28-26 final score. 

Coe struck first in the third set but a kill from Alberto and a Moira Mixan service ace gave the Duhawks the lead at 2-1. The Kohawks responded by putting three back up on the board but a pair of kills from Alberto and Casper brought the set back to a draw at 4-4. After back-to-back service errors by both sides, the score remained tied before Coe went on a three point run to go ahead 8-5 before Casper drew the Duhawks back within two. The Kohawks continued to hold the lead but a kill from Alberto and another Mixan service ace added two in favor of the Duhawks. Coe was able to hold off Loras to take the set 25-14. 

 Looking to force the match into a fifth set, the Duhawks went into set number four strong with two straight Wilgenbusch kills to open the set and give Loras a 2-0 lead. Service errors for both teams immediately followed before three straight kills from Alberto, Casper and Hoskins gave the Duhawks a 6-2 lead. Coe added two more back but Hoskins continued to put pressure on the Kohawks' defense with another kill to give Loras a three point lead. The Kohawks scored three back to tie the game at 7-7 before Mixan sparked a three-point run that saw Mixan post two kills and Sam Stoffregen record an ace at the service line. Coe continued to try to claw their way back but the Duhawks persisted and held a 13-10 lead after an Alberto kill and a Coe attacking error gave the Duhawks two straight. The Kohawks were able to tie the game twice before taking a three point lead at 18-15. Olivia Smith joined the attack with a kill followed by Casper who also put down a kill to bring the Duhawks within one at 18-17. Loras chipped away at the Kohawks' lead, outscoring the opposition 5-1 to tied the game at 22-22 but Coe held off the pressure to take the set 25-22 and close out the match with a 3-1 final score. 

The A-R-C Player of the Week duo in Casper and Alberto led the attack for the Duhawks, posting 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Lyndsi Wilgenbusch added ten kills of her own. Alberto continued to put her defensive skills on display against the Kohawks, recording a season-high six blocks, joined by Hoskins who added a career-high four blocks. Krystal Tranel led the Duhawks with a season-high three aces while Mixan had two and Hoskins and Stoffregen notched one. 

The Duhawks are due to travel to Waverly, Iowa on Thursday, Mar. 25 to take on No. 23 Wartburg College in their final match of the season. The match is slated to begin at 7:00 PM at Levick Arena.