Connector Editor

The UMass Lowell volleyball team (0-10) dropped the middle portion of their three-game invitational against to Crusaders of Holy Cross (2-6) at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell this afternoon.

The squad fell behind early, losing the first two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-21 respectively.

It was a quick start for the River Hawks, as they jumped to a 7-4 lead early in the first set. Holy Cross answered, however, with a seven-point run that gave them a four-point cushion. Lowell was never able to cut the deficit below three. A late Crusader run gave the visitors a comfortable first-set victory.

The River Hawks looked to be in control of a back-and-forth second set when the held a two-point lead at 17-15. Unfortunately for the River Hawks, Holy Cross put together a six-point run that broke open the set 21-17. Lowell fought back hard to try to salvage the set, but they came up just short.

The third set did not bode much better for the home team. A quick five-point run gave Holy Cross a 7-3 lead it would not look back from. The River Hawks failed to gain any momentum in the third set, failing to sustain a rally of more than two points.  Another five-point surge by Holy Cross ensured the teams control on the match, which the Crusaders easily won 25-12.

Lauren Bennett, Rachael Arnason and Masha Yelsukova led the home team with six kills apiece over the three-set match. Lynsey Peterson and Mandy Sifferlen doubled those highs for the Crusaders, each posting twelve kills of their own.

The River Hawks now have to regroup for their game against Quinnipiac tonight at 7 p.m. at Costello, still looking for their first win of the season.