Sept. 17, 2005
Box Score
CHICAGO - The Loyola volleyball team wrapped up play at the Loyola Invitational by dropping a pair of four-game matches. Columbia knocked off the Ramblers in the day's first match, 3-1 (18-30, 30-28, 30-18, 30-22), before LU battled before succumbing to Tulsa, 3-1 (30-13, 26-30, 30-18, 30-25), in the nightcap.
Loyola opened the day on a high after an impressive win last night, and swarmed the Lions in the opening game. A Sarah Elmer kill gave LU a 9-7 lead and Jennifer White served up four more points to give the Ramblers a 13-8 edge. After Columbia was finally able to side out, Loyola regained service and Elmer served up six straight points, including a pair of aces, to give the Ramblers a commanding 20-9 lead and they were never headed. Game two was a different story as the Lions used six service aces to take an early 12-2 lead. The Ramblers chipped away and a Keily Zins ace cut the deficit to three (17-14) before a Zins kill drew LU even, 22-22. A Melissa Craig kill moments later actually gave Loyola a 27-25 lead but it could not close the lead and Columbia evened the match heading into intermission. Game three and four were all Lions, as the visitors opened an 8-0 lead en route to running away with the third game before using an 8-2 run midway through game four to take a 25-18 lead, a lead that was never challenged.
Craig had nine kills to lead a balanced Loyola offense. Hilary Stromath and Maria Schmitt added eight kills apiece and Elmer (25 assists) and Zins chipped in with seven put-aways.
The malaise carried over into game one of the Tulsa match, as the Golden Hurricane blew out to a 13-4 lead and never let the Ramblers find their rhythm. However, game two had a different feel, as LU came out with renewed focus and energy. After trading points to 6-6, the Ramblers reeled off three straight to gain some breathing room at 9-6. Loyola would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way, and Craig hammered down kills on two of the final three points to pull the Ramblers even heading into intermission. Game three was all Tulsa, as an eight-point scoring run early snapped a 3-3 tie and put LU in an 11-3 hole. A Tulsa error allowed LU to close within 15-10 but the Hurricane answered with five straight points to extend to a 20-10 lead and were never threatened. Five straight points early in game four helped Loyola erase a 7-5 deficit and take a 10-7 lead in the early stages. Tulsa stayed in and eventually took a 14-13 lead that they were able to extend to three points on several occasions. Consecutive kills from Stromath pulled Loyola within 24-23 but Tulsa used its resolve and managed to close it out, 30-25.
Audrey Davis had the best match of her young career, pounding out a team-high 15 kills to go with four blocks to lead the Ramblers. Craig added 10 kills and five blocks while Stromath and Zins pitched in with nine kills.
Loyola returns to action next weekend, opening Horizon League play with a pair of home matches. The Ramblers will take on UW-Green Bay on Friday night (Sept. 23) at 7 p.m. before squaring off with preseason favorite UW-Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
