WAVERLY, Iowa – The Edgewood College volleyball team spent a rough evening on the first day of the NACC-IIAC Challenge at Wartburg College. The Eagles let some late leads slip in a 3-1 loss to Loras College and then were swept 3-0 by the host Knights. The Eagles have two more matches on Saturday.

In the afternoon match, Edgewood College (6-7) was the first team to reach 20 points in all four sets played, but ultimately suffered a 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24 setback. In the first set, the Eagles led 22-20 before Loras College (6-7) rallied for the win. The Eagles took set two behind three kills apiece from Mackenzie Hannan and Renee Meister. The killer for the Eagles was the fourth set where Edgewood College led 19-12, only to watch Loras take the lead with a 12-4 run and put away the match.

Meister led all Eagles with 11 kills and a .348 hitting percentage. Emily Chaussee totaled 10 kills and 16 digs in the match. Hannan posted a new career-high with nine kills and Savannah Koester also had nine kills. Nichole Schaeve and Alex Zapuchlak each served up a team-high four aces, with Schaeve adding 22 digs and Zapuchlak 18 assists. Haley Schwenn led the team with 21 assists. Jenna Dammen posted a team-high four blocks patrolling the net.

In the second match of the day, Wartburg College held the Eagles' at arm's length sweeping all three sets 25-22, 25-15, 25-21. Elizabeth Evans was the only Eagle to reach double figures in kills, scoring 12 and a team-high .364 attack percentage. Chaussee and Meister chipped in four kills apiece. Schaeve had eight digs to lead the team, while Chaussee, Evans and Elizabeth Keller added seven digs each. Haley Schwenn totaled 19 assists.

Edgewood College will try to shake off their current three match losing streak tomorrow morning with a 10:00 a.m. match against Buena Vista University. The Eagles swept the Beavers two weeks ago at the UW-Platteville Invitational. The Eagles will close the NACC-IIAC Challenge with a match at 2:00 p.m. against Coe College.