Nov. 14, 2009

Box Score

CHICAGO - Sophomore Natalie Pounovich controlled the net on both ends, drilling a career-high 19 kills and adding eight blocks as Loyola wrapped up its 2009 season with an entertaining 3-2 (25-20, 13-25, 30-28, 19-25, 15-11) win over UIC this afternoon at the Flames Athletic Center. The Ramblers (12-17, 5-11 Horizon) finish the season in a three-way tie for sixth place with Green Bay and Youngstown State but were eliminated from Horizon League Tournament contention via tiebreak rules.

"What an exciting match and a good win for us," said head coach Marcie Wolbeck. "Both sides played excellent volleyball and we were able to end the season on a high note. Natalie was fantastic today and really took over at the net."

As was the case all afternoon, Loyola had to rally in the decisive fifth set. The Ramblers fell behind 9-6 on a Lana Lobdell kill and still trailed 11-9 after an error. However, Colleen Francis sandwiched two aces around a solo stuff from Pounovich to help turn the tide and give LU a 13-11 lead and, after a UIC timeout, a Dana VanDiggelen kill and Flames error capped a game-ending 6-0 run and gave the Ramblers the win.

The fifth set theatrics were set up after the teams split the first four frames. Two kills from Mallory Curran and Francis staked LU to an 8-4 lead in the opening set but the Flames would answer by scoring the next four points to forge an 8-all tie. A Curran ace and a Pounovich kill helped the Ramblers extend to a 21-18 lead late and they would hold on, with kills from Pounovich and Diana Schulte closing out the opening set, 25-20.

UIC used a 12-1 blitz to take command of the second set and, after Loyola jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set, the Flames rattled off 11 straight points as they seemed poised to repeat the feat. However, Pounovich teamed up with Katie Johnson and VanDiggelen on back-to-back blocks as Loyola hung tough and the Ramblers pulled within a pair (16-14) later on a Schulte kill. Another Schulte kill later helped Loyola draw even at 17, setting up a sprint to the finish. The Flames had the first crack at the set, leading 24-23, but a Johnson kill spoiled that opportunity. Loyola had two chances of its own (26-25, 27-26) turned aside before Pounovich slammed kills on either side of a UIC error to give the Ramblers a 30-28 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Loyola had its chances in the fourth set but UIC was the first to string some points together, using an 8-2 run to turn a 9-8 deficit into a 16-11 lead. The Ramblers were able to get as close as three (18-15) but the home team was able to hang on, sending the match to a fifth set.

"I thought the third set was the key to the match," said Wolbeck. "We were on our heels early after their big run but we really kept our composure, played together and gave ourselves a chance to win it."

Pounovich recorded her 19 kills at a .359 efficiency (19-5-39) and her 23.5 points were a match high. Curran, her fellow middle, also reached double figures, slamming 12 kills at a .455 clip (12-2-22).

Loyola's three seniors also played key roles in the win. Lauren Ditscheit dished out 50 assists and added 14 digs while VanDiggelen, despite recording just three kills, contributed 12 digs and four blocks. Libero Alyse Serritella notched a match-high 27 digs to run her career total to 1,722, good for second on Loyola's career list just 20 shy of Ann Deelo's (2003-06) school mark.