SYLVANIA, Ohio- The 19th-ranked Madonna University volleyball team took the floor for the second consecutive night for the second of four games in six days, and could not close the fifth set in a heartbreaking 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 13-25, 25-19, 15-12) loss to Lourdes University on Wednesday night.

Less than 24 hours after the Crusaders (5-3, 3-3 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference) swept Rochester University, they traveled South down I-75 and won the second and third games, but dropped the final two against the Gray Wolves (1-5, 1-4 WHAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED
The home team jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, but Madonna fought back and the teams traded long rallies with Madonna taking a 23-30 lead on a Kacie Stoneburner kill. However, the Gray Wolves capitalized on three consecutive Crusader errors and a pair of service aces for the 25-23 win.

History nearly repeated itself in set two as the Crusaders led from start to finish, but nearly lost at the end. The Blue and Gold saw a 23-19 lead vanish, but a Lourdes error and a block by Betsy Cook and DJ Sargent sealed the 25-23 victory.

The home team opened the third set on a 6-2 rally, but Madonna hit an impressive .650 (14-1-20) and limited the home team to a -.080 (6-8-25) attack percentage and won 23-of-30 points the rest of the way for a 2-0 match lead.

Madonna again led the majority of set four, but the home team won 10 of the final 14 points to even the match. Back-to-back kills from Janelle Kwaskiborski and Jodie Kelly put MU ahead 10-8 in the decisive game, but seven of the final nine points went the way of the Gray Wolves as they earned their first win of the year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
12-2 - The difference in aces favoring the Gray Wolves.
5 - The number of other major categories the Crusaders won in the contest: kills (59-54), blocks (10-6), assists (56-52), digs (71-67), attack percentage (.217-.129).
4 - Number of Crusaders with double-digit kills: Kelly (15), Tauri Hintz (13), Kwasiborski (12), Stoneburner (10)
26 - Number of assists dished out by both Jordyn Dawson and Betsy Cook with the latter also adding 10 digs.
18 - The numbers of digs by libero Olivia Sweeney

UP NEXT
Madonna is back on the court on Friday, Feb. 26 as they return to Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena for a 7 p.m. first serve against Concordia University (Mich.). Tickets are available at www.mucrusaders.com/tickets with live video and live stats also available at www.mucrusaders.com. 

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