Louisiana Christian University Athletics

NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana Christian University volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the season on Friday to open the Wolf Pack Welcome, falling 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19) to the Dillard Bleu Devils before falling to the Southern University New Orleans Lady Knights 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-22) at The Den on the campus of Loyola University New Orleans.

Louisiana Christian (0-2) held early leads of 9-5 and 10-7 in the first two sets against Dillard (1-1), but the Bleu Devils rallied to take both. LCU responded with its strongest offensive set of the doubleheader, breaking a 12-12 tie with three consecutive points and recording 18 kills with a .250 hitting percentage in a 25-22 third-set victory.  Mallory Wills supplied the Wildcats' final two kills of the set.

LCU led the fourth set 8-4 and went back in front 14-13 before Dillard pulled even at 15 and closed out the match.  Holly Rowe and Kourtlyn Smith led the Wildcats with 11 kills apiece, with Smith hitting .276. Emma Cother collected 22 assists and 15 digs, while Shanoa Mitch and Yadneli Molina also had 15 digs each. The Wildcats finished with 46 kills and held an 8-7 advantage in total blocks.

Against SUNO, Louisiana Christian nearly erased a six-point deficit in the first set with a five-point run that cut the margin to 17-16. The Wildcats then built a 13-6 advantage in the second behind consecutive service aces from Natalie Aasen. SUNO tied the set at 18, but LCU recovered and reached set point at 24-23 before Southern scored the final three points for a 26-24 win.

The Wildcats led the third set 18-14 after another ace by Natalie Aasen, who finished with all three of the Wildcats' aces. SUNO answered with eight straight points, and a late kill by Smith brought the Wildcats within 23-21 before the sweep was completed. Rowe recorded a team-high eight kills, Cother distributed 16 assists, and Molina led the defense with 11 digs. Wills contributed three kills, one solo block and two block assists as Louisiana Christian totaled five blocks.

Louisiana Christian closes out the Wolf Pack Welcome on Saturday with a rematch against Dillard at 9 a.m. before taking on the host, Loyola New Orleans. Opening serve against the Wolf Pack (3-3) is set for 2 p.m. with all matches of the Wolf Pack Welcome being played in The Den on the Loyola campus.