JACKSON -- Millsaps closed out the 3rd Annual Millsaps Invitational with a thrilling five-set victory over Loyola University – New Orleans on Saturday afternoon to finish 1-1 on the day and 2-2 on the weekend.
Junior Kate Hall again led the Majors offensively with 20 kills against just three errors, with \#Raven Scott\# and \#Maggie Tumminello\# adding nine and eight kills, respectively. Defensively, \#Dixie Krauss\# had 22 digs, while both \#Mallory Clark\# and \#Kasey Laird\# had 12 digs apiece.
The Majors were able to gain an early 11-7 lead in the first set thanks to a strong presence in the middle by junior \#Victoria Romano\#. They increased the lead with two kills and a solo block from Hall. Millsaps continued its offensive onslaught and closed out the opening set 25-15.
Hitting errors by Millsaps allowed Loyola to take an early 8-4 lead in the second set. The Majors fell behind 20-15 and fought to stay alive as they scored three straight points to narrow the gap, but were never able to overtake the Wolfpack, who held on for the set victory 25-23 to tie the match at one set.
Millsaps again fell behind early in the third set, but two kills from Laird and another from Hall tied the score at 9-9. From there, the Wolfpack picked up the attack and quickly gained a 19-14 lead. Millsaps was able to fight off three set points, but lost 25-19 when a serve found its way into the net, giving Loyola a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set began with the two teams trading two-point leads until Millsaps took a 14-11 lead behind great net play from Laird, Hall and sophomore \#Heather Keenan\#. The Majors continued to pull ahead as they staked a 21-16 advantage. Millsaps closed out the fourth set 25-19 on a kill from the frosh, Scott.
In the fifth and deciding set, Millsaps came out of the gate firing and quickly jumped to a 5-1 lead, but the resilient Wolfpack clawed their way back into the match, tying the score at 9-9. From there, the teams battled back and forth, until a key tip from Tumminello and a block by Scott gave the Majors set point.
Loyola was able to tie the match at 17-17, but Millsaps quickly came back with two straight points to finish the match in a thrilling 19-17 fifth-set victory.
Up next for Millsaps (2-2) is the Rhodes College Tournament in Memphis, Tenn., next weekend, Sept. 11-12, where they will play four matches over the two days.
