WORCESTER, Mass. - Lafayette concluded the 2025 volleyball season on Saturday night, matching up against Holy Cross. The Crusaders captured a 3-2 victory, rallying back from a 2-0 set deficit to win.

The Leopards notched 66 kills over five sets. Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo (17), Abby Nicholson (16) and Jada Aksu (14) were responsible for 47.

The Maroon and White coasted to a 25-18 final in the first set, powered by a .471 hitting percentage. Hannah Ehrich-Pollock, Nicholson and Aksu each recorded four kills and a block assist in the frame. Lafayette secured the first point in the set via an Ehrich-Pollock kill and kept the lead to the end of the set. Holy Cross' offense hit .190 with six attack errors.

The Crusaders jumped out to an early 12-10 lead in set two after a kill from KK Green. The Leopards responded with a five-point spurt, regaining an advantage (15-12). Mbeche-Odhiambo and Emily Gouldrup powered the Maroon and White through the stretch with a kill and an ace, respectively. The two teams fought throughout the set before the hosts used a Leopard attack error for a 24-23 lead. Lafayette closed out the frame immediately after, using back-to-back kills from Carol Ulichney and Aksu to wrap up the 26-24 score.

Holy Cross used a pair of five-point runs in the third set to solidify a 25-21 win in the frame. Green (5) and Taliah Lee (4) paced the Crusaders in kills during the frame. Sophia Wilson tallied five assists in the set, finishing with 27 total. 

Both offenses put up similar numbers in the fourth set. Holy Cross' 17 kills barely surpassed Lafayette's 16. The difference maker in the frame came in the form of team blocks, with a 7-3 advantage. Lee took care of business down the stretch, slapping down consecutive kills for a 25-22 score and a 2-2 set tie.

Holy Cross and Lafayette appeared evenly matched in the final frame, tying a total of 10 times. Only two lead changes took place in the fifth set, the second of which happened with a 14-14 tie. Emma Sorenson knocked down a kill prior to Lacey Murphy slapping down one of her own to win the set 16-14 and the match 3-2.

The Leopards conclude the season with a record of 4-22.


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