It took five games of hard fought volleyball, but the Loyola Wolf Pack (5-9, 2-4) bested the Dalton State Roadrunners (5-4, 1-3)
The first set was close all the way with the teams swapping leads throughout the contest. The Wolf Pack broke a 24-24 tie to go up by one (25-24), but the Roadrunners scored the final three points for the first set win, 27-25.
Loyola never trailed in the second game on their way to the 25-17 win.
It took 58 rallies for the hosts to win set three, 30-28.
Dalton State had trailed by five at 16-21, but rallied to take a 22-21 lead. The game went back and forth from there with the final Roadrunner lead at 27-26.
Dalton State jumped out to a nine point lead in the fourth set, but Loyola never gave up. The Wolf Pack came back to within two at 24-22 before the Roadrunners finally put the game away at 25-22.
The final set was a battle to the end. The score had been tied at 12, but the hosts scored the final three points for the final 15-12 win.
“We’re a young team,” said Dalton State Coach Bruna Langner. “We played really hard to the end. If we keep playing the way we are playing, we WILL have good results.”
The Roadrunners had 69 kills to 52 for Loyola. Michala Askew delivered her roll as the set up earning 37 assists.
Clarissa Weber added 13 assists. Savannah Nelson, Anna Metzler, Alyne Bianchi, and Kianna Delaney each had 13 kills.
Karly Newman had 28 digs. Metzler and Askew each added 13 digs. Nelson and Tori Pierce added eight digs and Bianchi 7.
Dalton State travels to Alabama Saturday to battle the University of Mobile at 1:00 p.m. CDT. Mobile handled Brenau in straight sets Friday night – (25-15, 25-13, 25-18), 3-0. All 12 Lady Rams victories this season have been in straight sets.
Dalton State 27 17 28 25 15 - 2
Loyola (NO) 25 25 30 22 12 - 3