Sept. 22, 2007
Final Stats
Valparaiso, Ind. - Freshman Mallory Curran had a team-high 11 kills but it was not enough as Loyola (3-10, 0-2 Horizon) dropped a 3-0 (30-24, 30-22, 30-28) decision to Valparaiso (10-3, 2-0) this afternoon at the ARC in Valparaiso, Ind. The match was the first between the two teams as members of the Horizon League.
"I was impressed with how our freshmen played today," said head coach Marcie Bomhack. "Mallory played well and Katie (Johnson) really came on in game three and did a good job for us and put herself in a position to play more for us."
Loyola settled in after falling behind 7-3 and eventually pulled into an 8-8 tie on a block by Curran and Sarah Singer. The teams traded points to 11-all and neither team was able to build a lead more than two points until Valpo grabbed a 20-17 on a Val Bollenbacher kill. Loyola hung tough and consecutive kills from another freshman, Colleen Francis, drew the Ramblers within a point, 23-22. However, Angie Porche took over from there, hammering three kills to make it 27-24 before three Rambler errors closed out the game.
Valpo against jumped out to the lead lead in game two, opening a 10-6 advantage on a Tara Newton kill. The Ramblers responded by scoring five of the next six points to make it 11-all but the Crusaders answered that run with one of their own, rattling off four quick points to restore a 15-11 lead. Valpo put the game away shortly thereafter, going on a 4-1 mini-run that turned an 18-14 lead into a commanding 22-15 bulge and Loyola would get no closer than six the rest of the way.
Game three was a nip-and-tuck affair, featuring 15 ties. Valpo played from the lead throughout the early stages of the set and a Bollenbacher kill gave the Crusaders a 12-9 lead. Loyola responded with some of its best volleyball of the match, stringing together six straight points to snag a 15-12 edge. Curran and Johnson each had two kills in the spurt. Another Johnson kill later made it a 17-13 LU lead before VU rallied with four straight points to pull even. The teams traded points to 22-all before a double block at the net gave the hosts a 24-22 lead. Kills from Curran and Johnson sandwiched a VU error to move the Ramblers into a 26-25 lead and a Singer kill moments later pushed LU closer at 28-27. However, as has been a recurring problem this season, Loyola could not put the game away. Valpo was able to side-out through Porche and a LU hitting error moved the Crusaders to match point, where Porche came through again, hammering her match-best 16th kill of the game to seal the win.
Curran's team-high 11 kills paced Loyola. Johnson, who only played the final game, racked up seven kills, as did Singer and Dana VanDiggelen. Alyse Serritella led Loyola's defense with 15 digs.
The Ramblers return to action on Tuesday night when they host Green Bay. First serve is 7 p.m. at Alumni Gym.
