LINCOLN, Neb. (Oct. 8, 2022) – Remaining resilient and forcing its opponent to work for the win, the Loras College women's volleyball team (5-15, 0-4 A-R-C) battled back in the third set and kept the fourth close to decide the victor in a 3-1 loss to Nebraska Wesleyan University (13-6, 3-2 A-R-C) on Saturday.

The Prairie Wolves jumped out to an early 13-3 lead in the opening set before Allie Burke and Sophie Younkin added a pair of kills to stop the run and a service ace by Sam Stoffregen helped cap a 5-0 run midway through the set, bringing Loras within two points, 13-15. Nebraska Wesleyan regained the momentum and despite two kills from Olivia Smith and Younkin, the Prairie Wolves closed out the first set, 25-19.

It was the same start for the hosts with an early lead in the second set with four-straight points but a kill by James Keefe helped the Duhawks come within two points, 6-4, before the Prairie Wolves went on a spurt to pull ahead 16-6. A kill from Smith sparked a four-point run of their own with Abbey Kwiatkoski added a pair of kills and Talia McAtee registered an ace to cut Nebraska Wesleyan's lead, 17-11, but the set went in favor of the Prairie Wolves, 25-20.

The Duhawks remained resilient and fought through a back-and-forth third set, coming back late in the set after a service error by the Prairie Wolves gave the Duhawks the serve and Younkin hit a kill to bring Loras within one point of Nebraska Wesleyan , 19-20. A kill by Burke followed by a block by Younkin and Smith put Loras up, 21-20, and Keefe served up an ace for a 22-20 lead. Nebraska Wesleyan rallied back and put themselves at match point, 24-22, but the Duhawks battled back with a kill by Smith followed by an error by the Prairie Wolves and a kill by Younkin to lead 25-24 and force the opponent to decide the set in extra points. Nebraska Wesleyan tied it with a kill but surrendered back-to-back attack errors to keep Loras alive and send the match to four sets.

Nebraska Wesleyan tried to keep the distance in the fourth set but it was another late rally by the Duhawks that kept the match close as Smith registered back-to-back kills and Keefe added one of her own to bring Loras within striking distance, 17-20. Burke and Younkin added kills two points later and the Prairie Wolves gave up an attack error to help Loras cut the lead, 21-20, and the Duhawks continued to fight back, ultimately tying the set 23-23 with kills by Burke and Younkin yet again. The comeback came just took late though as the Prairie Wolves finished off the set with a pair of kills for a 25-23 win and the 3-1 match win.

Keefe and Smith both tallied 11 kills on the afternoon and Younkin added ten while Stoffregen, Riley Deere and Cat Gleason had two aces apiece. Smith also had a team-high four blocks while Sara Hoskins added 46 assists, moving her into No. 5 in Loras' single-season records.

The Duhawks will host Beloit College on Tuesday, Oct. 11 for non-conference action inside the Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center. The match begins at 7 P.M.