Nov. 3, 2006
Box Score
Green Bay, Wis. - Loyola had its chances, holding leads in all three games, but were unable to find a way to close them out in a 3-0 (30-24, 35-33, 30-26) loss to UW-Green Bay tonight at the Phoenix Sports Center. Loyola (13-14, 6-6 Horizon) now sits just one-half game ahead of the Phoenix (11-14, 5-6) in the conference standings.
"We were extremely inconsistent tonight and it really hurt us," said head coach Marcie Bomhack. "We put ourselves in position to have a chance to win all three games but could not get it done. UW-Green Bay was excellent on defense, they dug a lot of balls but we could never find a flow offensively and were unable to take advantage at the net."
Game one seemed to be a microcosm of the match as three kills from Dana VanDiggelen helped Loyola charge out to an early 7-2 lead. Two service aces from UW-Green Bay's Chelsea Lyga helped the Phoenix rattle off the next five points to tie and the hosts, eventually, edged out to a 15-12 lead on a Rambler service error. A solo block later by Melissa Craig pulled the Ramblers within two but they would get no closer and a Sarah Rouen kill gave the Phoenix the opening frame.
Trailing 5-3 early in game two, six straight points on the service of Jen White helped LU to a 9-5 lead. A block from Craig and Courtney Ashley pushed the lead to 16-9, prompting UW-Green Bay to burn its final timeout, and the hosts stormed back shortly thereafter. An 8-1 Phoenix run gave it a 20-18 lead but the Ramblers held strong, regaining the lead (26-25) on a Craig kill. A Green Bay error and an Ashley kill gave Loyola its first of four game points, however, each of the first three were erased on Rambler hitting errors before an Abby Bergsma kill held off the fourth and another Rambler error gave the Phoenix a 35-33 win and a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
After falling behind 5-1 in game three, LU roared back to score nine of the next 10 points to seize a 10-6 lead. Shelby Henriksen led the way with two kills and two blocks in the spurt and it seemed as if the Ramblers were primed to get back in the match. Another VanDiggelen kill later helped stave off a Phoenix rally but a 6-1 Green Bay spurt in the middle portion of the game put Loyola in a 19-16 hole. A Kathryn Langheld kill and a Phoenix error made it 19-18 before five straight Green Bay points, including two more aces from Lyga, made it a 24-18 lead and, despite a late Loyola charge that sliced a 29-22 deficit to 29-26, it proved to be enough for the victory.
VanDiggelen led the way for the Ramblers with 11 kills. Ashley added a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs while Sarah Elmer totaled seven kills, 36 assists and 18 digs in a sterling performance from her setter position. Libero Ann Deelo recorded 16 digs to move within 41 of the Horizon League career record. With two regular season matches and at least one in the conference tournament, Deelo needs to average 14 digs/match to better the mark.
Loyola wraps up weekend play tomorrow afternoon when it takes on UW-Milwaukee. First serve from the Klotsche Center is scheduled for 4 p.m.
