Facing a losing streak in the double-digits and time running out on the season, the volleyball team looked to snap a series of losses in its final home games.
The Leopards (1-12 Patriot League, 6-16 overall) lost back-to-back games in straight sets, losing to American University (10-3 Patriot League, 20-5 overall) last Friday followed by a Saturday shutout on Senior Day against Loyola University Maryland (7-6 Patriot League, 9-13 overall).
The Leopards shot out to a 3-0 start in the opening set against the Eagles on Friday. The Maroon and White struggled with giving up a series of runs as they have throughout the season, ceding runs of four, five and six consecutive points as they lost the first set 25-16.
In the second set, the Maroon and White again took an early 3-0 lead but struggled to keep up with American throughout the set. Down 17-16 late in the set, the Leopards ceded another crucial run of four unanswered points that proved critical in the 25-22 set loss for the Leopards.
There was no such early lead for the Leopards in the third set, as the Eagles led wire to wire in the 25-18 set victory, making it a 10-game losing streak for the Maroon and White.
The Leopards had an opportunity to rebound the next night in their senior night match against Loyola, where the team honored the seven members of its graduating class.
“They are literally the first people who I talked to when I came here,” freshman offensive hitter Destiny McKenzie said of the seniors. “They were extremely welcoming, and I love them so much.”
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but thanks to the quick offense of McKenzie and crucial blocks by sophomore middle blocker Irelynd Lorenzen, the Maroon and White fought back to even the match at an 8-8 tie.
“Over the season, we’ve done a good job of becoming more consistent and taking good energy on the court,” Lorenzen said. “Volleyball is such a mental game.”
The two teams went back and forth through the remainder of the set until the Greyhounds pulled away with a 4-0 run to make it a 25-19 set victory.
After a 5-5 tie in the second set, Loyola took the lead on the next play and maintained the advantage en route to their 25-20 set victory. The set was not without drama, as McKenzie and Lorenzen worked in tandem to keep the pressure on the Greyhounds, and senior middle blocker Natasha Zorbas had two crucial kills.
“We all give our 100% if not more and you can see that on the court,” McKenzie said.
Much like the second set, the teams seemed evenly matched at the onset of the third. Again, the Leopards surrendered a commanding lead by multiple Greyhound scoring runs. Despite the Leopards’ effort, spearheaded again by kills from McKenzie and Lorenzen, the team ultimately lost the set 25-14.
The Maroon and White have three matches remaining, all of which are on the road. The next will be at Colgate University (11-2 Patriot League, 14-10 overall) as the team faces off against the Raiders on Friday at 6 p.m.