Volleyball falls to Loyola in a tight five-setter

WEST POINT, Ga. (Oct. 13, 2023) - The Point University Volleyball team returned to the court at the West Point Park Gymnasium for a Southern States Athletic Conference Matchup against Loyola University-New Orleans, where the instant classic came to five sets, and the Wolfpack took the win. 

Set One (32-30, Win) 

The first set started with both teams trading scores, which saw Loyola begin to get the upper hand with a 10-7 lead. However, Sameily Marquez's two kills and Jordan Palmer's service ace brought the first set tied at 10. Loyola returned the favor with the following two scores, but the Skyhawks continued to put pressure on the Wolfpack as Sameily Marquez and Aaliyah Lobendahn added two kills followed by a ball-handling error on Loyola. The set continued to see both teams battle it out as Point took a 4-0 run from two service aces from Aaliyah Lobendahn, a kill from Tianna Kynard, and a block from Claire Cordell and Tianna Kynard. Loyola took the following few scores to bring the deficit within one score, but a service error halted their run. The back and forth carried both teams past 25 and the match tied at 29. The Wolfpack took the lead by one, but three attack errors saw the Skyhawks take set one 32-30. 

Set Two (25-20, Loss) 

The Wolfpack took an early 5-2 lead over the Skyhawks, but Point brought the game within one score as three attack errors from Loyola brought it within reach. The Wolfpack shook off the rust and scored the next four to lead by five. Sameily Marquez retaliated with a kill which was followed by a service ace from Jordan Palmer, along with an attack error from Loyola. The Wolfpack continued to keep a grasp on their lead as the next few scores pushed the lead to 16-10. A kill from Sameily Marquez and blocks on back-to-back plays from Jadakate Judkins and Claire Cordell brought the score to 16-14. As the set continued, the Wolfpack's momentum carried them for the following few scores, which included two kills and an attack error from Point. As the Skyhawks trailed 23-19, Loyola would allow one last score from Point before closing out the set with a 25-20 win to bring the sets to 1-1. 

Set Three (26-24, Win) 

Loyola's momentum from set two carried to set three as the Skyhawks started the set trailing 11-5. A 6-2 run from Point brought the set within three, with the Skyhawks knocking on the door of regaining their momentum. The spark started to pick up as Aaliyah Lobendahn tallied a kill and two service aces, which saw the Skyhawks trail by 19-18. The Wolfpack took the following two scores, but a service error from Loyola and a kill from Sameily Marquez helped bring the set back to a one-score game. With Loyola leading 24-22, Point's spark kicked in at the perfect time as Aaliyah Lobendahn added a kill, Loyola picked up two errors, and Claire Cordell put the nail in the coffin for the 26-24 win in set three to lead 2-1. 

Set Four (29-27, Loss) 

Loyola started the fourth set with a clear mind to avoid dropping the match in four by leading 5-2. Point's offense saw Tianna Kynard, Claire Cordell, and Sameily Marquez tally kills to take the lead 6-5. The Wolfpack took the following four scores, which helped Loyola regain the lead 9-6. Point took an 8-0 run, caused by errors from Loyola and kills from Sameily Marquez. With the score being 14-9, Loyola took the following three scores, but Aaliyah Lobendahn responded with a kill, followed by a service ace from Jordan Palmer. Business started to pick up in the West Point Gym as both teams began to empty the tank by trading scores and letting their opponent get the upper hand. Three attack errors from Loyola and a kill from Sameily Marquez put the Skyhawks ahead 24-22. Loyola responded with a 4-1 run to regain the lead 26-25 before Point called a timeout. Coming the break, Aaliyah Lobendahn and Jadakate Judkins responded with a block to tie it at 26. Jadakate Judkins took the next kill, but two kills from Loyola helped the Wolfpack push the match to five sets. 

Set Five (15-10, Loss) 

The anticipation for set five saw the Skyhawks take an early 2-0 lead as Sameily Marquez and Aaliyah Lobendahn added kills. The Wolfpack wiped Point's lead away with three straight scores, but the kill from Aaliyah Lobendahn and a service ace from Sameily Marquez put the Skyhawks back in the lead by one. After the response from Loyola, Claire Cordell retaliated with two kills, followed by one from Aaliyah Lobendahn. Loyola started to pick up the pace by going on an 8-2 run, which pushed the Wolfpack closer to the finish line. Sameily Marquez added the following two scores for the Skyhawks, but Loyola closed out the match with a kill to win in five. 

In the box 

Sameily Marquez led with 18 kills, 15 digs, two blocks, and a service ace. Aaliyah Lobendahn followed with 15 kills, 12 digs, four service aces and a block. Claire Cordell contributed eight kills, 19 digs, and four total blocks. Jordan Palmer led the team with 21 digs total. Paige Lowe also had a double-double with 43 assists and 12 digs. 

Up next 

The Skyhawks return to the West Point Gym for a Saturday SSAC matchup against William Carey University starting at 1:00 P.M.