DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College women's volleyball team opened its home slate with a straight-set victory over Ripon College on Tuesday night inside the Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center.
Ripon jumped out to an early 8-4 advantage in the opening set before Loras found its rhythm. With
Jaylyn Schwartz at the service line, the Duhawks rattled off seven consecutive points to turn the deficit into an 11-8 lead.
Cat Meyer supplied a kill during the run, while
Isabel Hart added a block.
Loras continued to build its advantage behind
Cydney Tath, who recorded three kills during a stretch that pushed the lead to 20-13. Ripon pulled within four at 20-16, but the Duhawks responded and closed the frame with four straight points, capped by a Tath kill for the 25-18 win.
The second set proved to be the tightest of the night. Loras scored the first four points and later took a 7-3 advantage behind a Meyer service ace and
Kyra Kuehn kill, but Ripon battled back to tie the set at eight. Neither team created much separation from there, with the score eventually even at 18-18 and again at 20-20.
With the score tied at 22, Kuehn delivered consecutive kills to give the Duhawks set point at 24-22. Ripon answered with two straight to even things at 24, but Loras responded. A Red Hawk attack error put the Duhawks back in front before
McKenna Carroll and Kuehn combined for the set-ending block, securing a 26-24 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Loras carried the momentum into the third, building an 11-3 advantage.
Iva Senio recorded an ace during the early run before Tath followed with consecutive service aces to help the Duhawks take control. Loras later extended the lead to 20-10, with Schwartz adding another ace along the way.
Ripon made a late push, trimming the advantage to 23-18, but the Duhawks closed the door with the final two points to complete the 25-18 third-set victory and 3-0 sweep.
Tath led the Loras attack with 12 kills, hitting .237 while adding three service aces and 11 digs. Meyer finished with seven kills and a match-high 25 digs, while Kuehn added six kills. Carroll contributed five kills on a .273 hitting percentage, and Hart directed the offense with 29 assists and five digs.
As a team, Loras totaled 34 kills, 32 assists, seven aces and 75 digs, while holding Ripon to a .007 hitting percentage.
Up Next: Loras will return to action on Friday and Saturday this week as they host the Loras Invitational.
