Merk, Pirates Down Loyola for Fifth Straight Win

Saturday, September 14

Towson, Md. / TU Arena

11:00 AM

Seton Hall University

5-3,0-0Big East

Loyola (Md.)

1-7,0-0Patriot

Loyola Maryland

Seton Hall

9/14/2024 1:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score BOX SCORE (.pdf)

Reagan Merk and Gwen Adler collected double-doubles.

TOWSON, MD. – Senior Reagan Merk (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and freshman Gwen Adler (Barrington, Ill.) had double-doubles to help lead the Seton Hall women's volleyball team to a 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23) victory over Loyola (Md.) on Saturday for its fifth win in a row.

The Pirates have now won five straight matches since starting the season 0-3. They're 2-0 at the Towson Invitational and will wrap up the tournament against the host, Towson, today at 4:00 p.m.

Merk picked up her second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs. Adler's first career double-double consisted of 18 assists and 10 digs. Sophomore Maddy Loiselle (Lutz, Fla.) had 11 kills, only two attack errors and a team-best .450 attack percentage. Sophomore Rylee Nelson (Mazeppa, Minn.) had a match-high 21 digs.

SET 1:
With the score tied at four in set one, Loyola went on an 8-2 run to grab an early 12-6 advantage. The Hall rallied, and a 7-2 burst by the Pirates cut their deficit to 14-13 and forced a Loyola timeout. Clinging to a 15-14 lead, the Greyhounds went on a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 21-15, forcing the Pirates to take their second timeout. Loyola extended its run to 9-2 to enter set point, 24-16, and three points later, won 25-18.

SET 2:
Seton Hall got off to a fast start in set two, and a kill by Asli Subasili (Tekirdag, Turkiye) gave it a 13-6 advantage. Down 15-10, Loyola scored four straight to cut its deficit to only one point and force a Seton Hall timeout. The Pirates responded in kind with five straight points out of the break to boost their lead back up to 20-14. Leading 24-20, a kill by Jenna Walsh (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) put set two in the win column for The Hall. The Pirates' defense was impressive in set two, collecting 18 digs and holding Loyola to a -.028 attack percentage.

SET 3:
For a second straight set, The Hall took control from the start in set three. The Pirates scored the first five points and grew their lead to 14-7 on a kill by Merk. Seton Hall's lead grew to as many as eight points on three occasions and the Pirates went on to win set three, 25-20, on a kill by Walsh. The Hall had a .267 attack percentage in set three.

SET 4:
After eight ties to begin the set, Loyola scored six straight points to grab a 14-9 lead in set four. Trailing 16-12, The Hall scored four straight, and an ace by Subasili tied the score at 16. Seton Hall led 18-17, but Loyola scored four in a row to jump ahead, 21-18, and force a Pirates timeout. The Hall bounced back with four straight points of their own and a kill by Grace Turner (La Grange Highlands, Ill.) put it back in front, 22-21, and it was Loyola's turn for a timeout. A kill by Perri Lucas (Chicago, Ill.) had The Hall in match point, 24-22, and a kill by Walsh ended the match in the Pirates' favor.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Merk had 11 kills, 11 digs and two service aces.
Adler tallied 18 assists and 10 digs.
Loiselle collected 11 kills, only two attack errors and a team-best .450 attack percentage.
Nelson had a match-high 21 digs.
Walsh and Lucas picked up eight kills apiece.
Senior Maddie Klungel (Napa, Calif.) had a team-best 25 assists to go with seven digs.
Seton Hall recorded a .199 attack percentage for the match, while Loyola (Md.) attacked at .176.
The Pirates had 57 kills, while Loyola (Md.) had 51.
The Hall recorded 75 digs, while the Greyhounds had 79.
Seton Hall collected 8.0 blocks and Loyola (Md.) had 4.0.

NEWS & NOTES:

The Hall has won five in a row and improves to 5-3, while Loyola (Md.) falls to 1-7.
Seton Hall is now 3-0 all-time against the Greyhounds.
The Pirates have won five straight matches after starting the season 0-3.
The Pirates are 5-0 when having a higher attack percentage.
The Hall is a perfect 5-0 in the month of September.
Merk's double-double is her second of the season.
Adler's double-double is the first of her career.
Nelson has now reached 20 digs in a single match three times this season.
With five kills today, Walsh surpassed the 600-kills mark for her career.
With 11 kills today, Merk surpassed the 100-kills mark for her career.
For a third straight match, The Hall set a season-high in team kills (57).
The Pirates' 75 team digs today is also a season-best.
Seton Hall is 5-3 despite winning the first set only twice this season.