VILLANOVA, Pa. – Old Dominion volleyball forced a fifth set against Loyola (Md.) in their second match of the Villanova Classic on Saturday evening, where they would come out victorious in a 3-2 final.
To kickstart the fifth set, the Monarchs went on a 6-0 run, where Elisa Maggi, Alice Munari, and Myah Conway accounted for consecutive kills and Maggi served a couple aces. The Greyhounds were unable to recover, which ultimately led to an ODU victory.
“I’m proud of the team’s response today,” said ODU Head Coach Fred Chao. “After the third set, we made some changes and needed players to step up.”
ODU 3, Loyola 2
After a back-and-forth first few serves, made possible by bad sets and attack errors, the Monarchs (4-2) would eventually take the first set after a late kill by Maggi, which would lead to a 3-0 run to cap off the set and a 26-24 ODU win.
The Greyhounds (1-5) came out strong in the second set, going on a 4-0 run before ODU was able to get themselves on the board. The Monarchs and Greyhounds would exchange 4-0 runs late into the set, though Ava Nepkin’s and Lauren Link’s seven total kills in the second half would help seal the set in favor of Loyola, 25-23.
After keeping the score close throughout the first half of the third set, a 5-0 run by the Greyhounds as well as four attack errors from the Monarchs would prevent ODU from claiming it as they fell 25-18.
Although the set began in Loyola’s favor, a late 5-0 run would put the Monarchs on top 23-14 in the fourth set. Another kill from Maggi and a Kate Kilpatrick service ace sealed the set for ODU and kept them alive as the team took the set, 25-15.
A couple Maggi service aces helped ODU build a 6-0 advantage to start the decisive set. The Monarchs never lost the lead in the fifth as they cruised to victory with help from numerous attack errors as well as three kills from Munari and Conway. ODU would end the final set winning 15-10.
Conway and Maggi led the team in kills with 14 apiece, while Ashlynn Belcher led the way in assists with 30. Munari recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs, with Kate Kilpatrick also racking up 14 digs. LeeAnne Lowery led ODU at the net with five blocks.
ODU would combine for a .233 hitting percentage against Loyola’s .315. The Greyhounds also led in kills (63-59) and assists (58-49), though the Monarchs would lead the way in total attacks (159-146), aces (14-6) and blocks (7-6).
Up Next
The Monarchs will face off against tournament host Villanova on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. to cap off the Villanova Classic.
“We hung in there and finally started to fire on all cylinders,” said Coach Chao. “We also made good offensive decisions and were able to sideout more effectively. Our service game was on tonight as we threw a variety of looks at them.”