STORM LAKE, Iowa (Oct. 7, 2022) – Loras College's women's volleyball team fought hard on Friday night in a road match with Buena Vista University, but the Duhawks managed to claim just one set in a 3-1 defeat.

The loss marks the first for the Duhawks (5-14, 0-3 A-R-C) in the head-to-head series with the Beavers (7-10, 2-2 A-R-C) since 2017.

The Beavers claimed the opening set after they took command in the latter half, but the Duhawks started strong in the second frame and led by as many as four thanks in-part to three early kills from freshman pin Sophie Younkin.

Buena Vista battled back and held a slim lead through the middle stages of the set. Loras trailed 22-19 late in the set but staged a stellar 6-0 run to close out the set in comeback fashion. A kill from senior pin James Keefe clinched the second set after a service ace from sophomore defender Riley Deere gave the Duhawks a chance at set point.  

Set number three stayed close for a while as the score would end up being tied at 16-16. From there, the Beavers ended the frame on a 9-2 run to claim the set 25-18 and take a 2-1 advantage in the match. That momentum carried into the fourth set for the Beavers as they cruised to a 25-15 victory in to claim the match 3-1.

Keefe led the Duhawks with 15 kills while Younkin joined her in double figures with 10, giving the freshman 10 or more kills to back-to-back matches after she tallied 11 versus Ripon College on Tuesday. Keefe also paced the Duhawks with a career-high 15 digs to anchor the defense in the match.

Loras has a quick turnaround as it continues its trip to the western side of the A-R-C tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 8, when the Duhawks face Nebraska Wesleyan University at 1 P.M. in Lincoln, Neb.