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Lourdes returned to the .500 mark overall on Wednesday evening with a convincing 25-17, 25-22, 25-20 victory over Madonna inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
The Crusaders entered the match unbeaten in WHAC play at 4-0, but the Gray Wolves limited the Madonna offense to just .087 hitting on the night while Lourdes put down 49 kills in the three sets.  Yasmin Assis (Salto, Brazil/Antonio Alves Aranha H.S.) tied a school record with 42 assists in the three set match for the Gray Wolves.
 
"I thought we were able to run a diverse offense and make smart swings tonight," head coach Greg Reitz said following the win.  "The 42 assists for Yasmin is really impressive.  I also felt that we ran a disciplined defense this evening.  Holding Madonna to under .100 hitting for the match is significant."
 
Trailing 6-5 in the opening set, Lourdes went on an 11-3 run, including five consecutive points off the service of Assis, to take the early lead in the match.  The Gray Wolves hit .297 with 17 kills in set one while yielding just eight kills from the Crusaders.
 
Set two saw 13 ties before the Gray Wolves came out on top behind 19 kills in the stanza.  Trailing 21-20, Lourdes scored the next three points to forge ahead for good, closing the set behind a block from Rafa Borges (Uberlandia, Brazil/CESEC H.S.) and Kylee McBride (Peoria, Ariz./Mountain Ridges H.S.).
 
Lourdes utilized a 12-3 run in the third set to build a 17-10 advantage, a lead the Gray Wolves would eventually extend to 21-12.  The Crusaders climbed back, closing to within two, 22-20, before the Gray Wolves scored the final three points to clinch the match.
 
Allie Hale (Holland, Ohio/Springfield H.S.) led the way for Lourdes with 15 kills and 10 digs while McBride added 14 kills while hitting .303.  Emily Drenth (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South H.S.) also finished with double figure kills, posting 11 in the victory.
 
Defensively, Alli Plasencio (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S.) recorded 22 digs while Borges had four blocks to go along with a .556 hitting night on five kills.
 
Jodie Kelly led Madonna (12-5, 4-1 WHAC) with eight kills and 10 digs.
 
Lourdes (6-6, 3-2) will take to the road on Friday evening, heading to Adrian, Mich. to battle Siena Heights.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the SHU Fieldhouse.