Three Double-Doubles Boost Volleyball by Crusaders

Tuesday, October 20

Worcester, MA

7 PM

Army West Point

16-6, 8-1PL

Holy Cross

5-17, 2-7PL

Army

Holy Cross

Three Double-Doubles Boost Volleyball by Crusaders

October 20, 2015 | Volleyball

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Army West Point volleyball team improved its winning streak to six-straight with a 3-1 victory over Holy Cross Tuesday evening.

"We did not play at the best of our abilities today," said head coach Alma Kovaci. "Our game lacked mentally and physically. You can't have your best game all the time, but we were good enough to get the win and that is what matters when you play a midweek conference match. Rachel Gearon did a great job for us coming in and changing the pace of the game with her quickness."

Army improves to 16-6 on the season with tonight's win, and holds an 8-1 record in Patriot League matches.

Three Black Knights recorded double-doubles in the win. Nicole Perri led the offense with 18 kills and a career-high 14 digs. Amber Clay chipped in 17 kills and 14 digs and Vanessa Edwards recorded 55 assists and 12 digs.

Olivia Fairfield added nine kills, while Carolyn Bockrath tallied eight. Vanessa Edwards recorded 55 assists and 12 digs for a double-double. Ellie Petersen led the defense with 16 digs.

The Crusaders (5-17, 2-7) jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the first set over the Black Knights. Army and Holy Cross rallied back and forth to tie the set seven times before either team gained any traction. With the score at 17-17, Army scored the next five points to gain a 22-17 lead.

Fairfield tallied a kill and then Clay earned three kills of her own on top of a Holy Cross attacking error. The Crusaders earned one more point before Army went on a 3-0 run to win the set. An error by Holy Cross tacked on one point for the Black Knights and then a kill by Clay and a service ace by Fairfield sealed the set.

In set two, the set was close at the beginning, but Army gained momentum after being tied at 6-6 and jumped ahead to win. The Black Knights went on a 9-1 run to earn a 17-8 lead. Vanessa Wesley earned Army's 18th point off an assist by Edwards.

Petersen was on the serve for five points in a row while Fairfield and Clay tacked on Army kills. Clay tallied a kill to put Army up 24-18, and a service ace by Fairfield earned the Cadets' set point.

There was a lot of back and forth action between the Crusaders and Black Knights in set three. Army tied the set at 21-21, but Holy Cross went on a 6-4 run to win the set.

In set four, Army climbed out to a 13-8 lead. Perri scored off an assist from Edwards before the Crusaders recorded a ball handling error. Holy Cross recorded a kill and then Gearon tallied a kill for the Black Knights to push Army's lead to 16-10.

Perri and Clay notched back-to-back kills followed by two from Holy Cross. Jaden Pickell recorded the Cadets' 19th point, but the Crusaders fought back to bring the score to 19-15 with five points of their own.

Holy Cross brought the set within four at 21-17 before Army went on a 4-3 run to clinch the match. Army's points came off two kills by Perri and two errors by the Crusaders.

The Black Knights earned 64 kills to Holy Cross' 40. Army had a 59-37 advantage in kills and led the Crusaders 66-46 in digs.

"We will take the day off tomorrow and reset on Thursday to get mentally and physically ready for a very good Colgate team," said Kovaci.

Army is back in action Saturday, Oct. 24, when the Cadets' host Colgate for their annual Dig Pink game presented by St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital. The match is set to start at 4 p.m. with a free youth clinic to follow.

For up-to-date information about Army volleyball, please follow @ArmyWP_VB on Twitter and Instagram.