March 11, 2007
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball defeated the NAIA's No. 1-ranked team, California Baptist, 3-2 (28-30, 30-26, 30-26, 26-30, 15-13) on Saturday at Van Dyne Gym. The Ramblers improved to 15-4 (4-2 MIVA Shondell/Dunlap) while the three-time defending NAIA national champion, Lancers dropped to 14-6 overall.
Middle blocker James Grunst registered his first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 blocks to lead the way for the Ramblers. Grunst took only 15 swings on the attack for a match-high .600 hitting percentage for the match. The Milwaukee, Wis. native also had nine block assists and one solo block for a match-high 10 blocks on the front line of the Rambler defense. This is Loyola's sixth double-double of the season, with the latest being Nathan Gustus recording 13 kills and 15 digs last Saturday against NJIT.
Three other Ramblers had double-figures in kills, led by opposite hitter Ian Anderson who totaled a team-high 23 kills, followed by 14 from Joe Guntli then Krisjanis Berzins added 10.
With game one tied at 19, Cal Baptist went on a 5-0 run to seize momentum of the match. Four Rambler attack errors keyed the run that gave the Lancers the lead for good. It was Loyola who took control of tied contests in games two and three by responding with a pair of 4-1 runs. In game two, a pair of Anderson kills helped the Ramblers gain a 24-21 advantage they would never relinquish. With the score tied at 22 in game three, the Ramblers took over the match with a 4-1 run which was highlighted by a pair of Berzins kills to give Loyola a critical edge. The Lancers controlled action throughout game four, leading by as many as six points before earning a 30-26 victory. Nick Lamoureux came up big in the deciding game, tallying two kills and two blocks to help Loyola to an early 7-6 lead before four Cal Baptist errors late in the game led the Ramblers to a 15-13 win.
The Ramblers outblocked the Lancers 19.5 to 14.5. Brian Guntli and Lamoureux both had seven apiece while Joe Guntli added six. In the back row, Zach Bailey registered a team-high 10 digs for his eighth double-figure dig performance of the season.
The Lancers had eight ace serves compared to only one for the Ramblers and Loyola also overcame 21 service errors.
Cal Baptist Donald Baliaba took match-high honors with 31 kills on 60 attempts. The Lancers' Yukai Sun and Urs Gunthor chipped in 12 kills apiece while Eric Plunkett and Dan Buehring shared setter duties and both had 29 assists. Defensively, Romain Vetter had a team-high eight blocks and Corey Spence had a match-high 13 digs.
Loyola returns to Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action against Lewis at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Alumni Gym.
