DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College women's volleyball team fell, 3-1, to crosstown rival, the University of Dubuque, on Wednesday night inside the Stoltz Sports Center.
The Spartans led the opening set from the first serve. The home team extended its advantage to as many as nine (22-13) and outlasted the Duhawks comeback attempt, a 6-1 run that cut the deficit to just four (23-19). The University of Dubuque (12-7 overall, 1-0 A-R-C) took set one by a score of 25-19.
Back-to-back kills from
Cat Meyer and
Autumn Finch to open set two gave Loras (9-9, 0-1) its only lead of the set (2-1). The Spartans broke a 3-3 tie with three consecutive points to take a 6-3 lead and never looked back. The Purple and Gold posted a five-point run (18-13) midway through the set to try and put themselves back within striking distance, but it wasn't enough as Dubuque used a 7-1 run of its own to take a two-set lead in the match with a 25-14 victory.
The Duhawks came out firing on all cylinders in the third set, rattling off four consecutive points to take a 5-1 lead that they would hold onto and extend over the course of the set. Loras led by as many as seven multiple times and responded with 4-0 run when the Spartans cut its lead to just two (14-12). The Purple and Gold took set three by a score of 25-18.
Despite trailing by five (6-1) early on, Dubuque was able to work itself all the way back to take a 9-7 lead. The Duhawks hung tough, knotting the score up at 15-15 and 16-16, before the Spartans closed out the set with a 9-0 run to take the set 25-16.
Sophie Younkin and Finch paced the Duhawk offense with 15 and 11 kills respectively. Meyer and
Elaina Schroeder added in eight kills apiece, while
Sara Hoskins dished out 44 assists. Meyer, Hoskins and
Lucie Lambe each totaled double-digit digs on the night. As a team, the Purple and Gold hit .169, finishing with 52 kills and 24 errors in 166 attempts.
Up Next: The Duhawks return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 9 when they take on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Williams Fieldhouse.
