The Loras College women’s volleyball team (12-14 overall, 3-4 A-R-C) fell to Nebraska Wesleyan (18-7 overall, 7-1 A-R-C).

This conference match-up was the Duhawks Senior Day game, celebrating senior Sara Hoskins. The Duhawks came out on top 25-18 in the first set then battled tooth and nail in the second set to lose 30-28. The Duhawks dropped both the third and the fourth set to the Prairie Wolves, 25-20 then 25-15.

Set 1

Nebraska Wesleyan began the set with a serve and an opening volley ace. The Duhawks were able to take control of this set early on. Multiple kills from Sophie Younkin and Autumn Finch to support the Duhawks. Hoskins went on a run and was able to give the Duhawks the final upper hand for Cat Meyer to have the final kill of the set with Jenna Bistline the last serve over for a 25-18 win.

Set 2

Bistline began serving for the Duhawks and with help from Meyer, the Duhawks were able to take a 5-3 lead. Nebraska Wesleyan began to separate themselves from the Duhawks after a missed serve. The Duhawks were down 13-7 until Bistline came back into serve allowing for Younkin, Meyer, and Alexis Woltman to all have kills right in a row. The Duhawks then took advantage of the Prairie Wolves’ misserves and were able to take the lead back 20-18. The rest of the set was a boxing match. No one was willing to back down Meyer had a big ace to tie the teams at 28 but then the Prairie Wolves had an ace and then a kill to win the set 30-28.

Set 3

The Duhawks held an early lead getting up 4-1 and were able to protect it until they were tied at 12. The Prairie Wolves then overtook the Duhawks and were able to capitalize on small errors. Nebraska Wesleyan then had a 5-point run to get up 22-17. Thanks to Meyer the Duhawks were within reach of tying the score but then once again the Prairie Wolves had a kill and then an ace to win the set 25-20.

Set 4

The Prairie Wolves had control of the momentum from the start of the set. They were able to keep a consistent 5-point lead throughout the game. Despite Meyer and Younkin’s multiple kills, the Duhawks were unable to catch up to Nebraska Wesleyan. The Prairie Wolves once again ended the set with an ace to win 25-15.

The Duhawks offense was led by Sophie Younkin who had 18 kills, an ace as well as 13 digs. Right behind her was Cat Meyer who tallied 11 kills and 4 aces. Sara Hoskins recorded 47 assists, 19 digs, 2 blocks and an ace.

Up Next: The Duhawks will head to Cedar Rapids to take on Coe College on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Duhawks will also be playing Friday and Saturday in Wisconsin to wrap up the remainder of the regular season.