Feb. 28, 2009
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. - No. 14 Loyola was in action for the second night in a row, falling short in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play at Ball State, 3-2 (31-29, 27-30, 25-30, 30-23, 7-15). The Cardinals improve to 7-4 (3-0 MIVA), while the Ramblers fall to 7-5 (0-4).
Ball State raced out to a 9-4 lead in the opening game, though Loyola never fell too far behind. Two straight service aces by Mike Bunting brought the Ramblers within one, 14-13 and a Cardinal attack error a few plays later eventually knotted the game at 17. Kills by Bunting, Matt Baleiko and Krisjanis Berzins helped the Ramblers maintain the lead, until consecutive Loyola attack errors gave Ball State a 27-26 advantage. A costly service error by the Cardinals and kills by Bunting, Nick Lamoureux, Michael Morice provided the Ramblers' final four points and the first game win, 31-29.
The Cardinals again got off to a quick start in the second game, jumping out in front with two separate 3-0 runs to take a 13-8 lead. The Ramblers came as close as two down the stretch, 20-18, but Ball State answered with a 7-2 run to extend the advantage to seven at 26-19. Several Cardinal attack errors helped key a rally late in the game and a kill by Lamoureux cut the lead to two at 29-27, but the hosts responded with a kill to claim the second game, 30-27.
A kill by Berzins brought Loyola within three at 17-14 midway through the third game, but Ball State put the lead back to six with a subsequent 3-0 run. The Ramblers battled back with kills by Berzins, Lamoureux and Bunting, but the Cardinals were able to maintain a comfortable lead the rest of the way, ultimately taking the third game, 30-25.
In the fourth game, it was Loyola with the early lead, as a pair of service aces by Bunting and kills from Lamoureux and George Kamberos helped the Ramblers build a five-point lead, 10-5. A 4-0 run helped Ball State rally back and pull within a point, before two straight Loyola attack errors gave the hosts a one point advantage. Back-to-back kills by Lamoureux and Berzins put the game back in Loyola's favor and a 7-0 run shortly after all but sealed it for the Ramblers, who went on to even the match with a 30-23 fourth-game victory.
Loyola came within three points at 10-7, before Ball State closed out the fifth game with a decisive 5-0 run to secure the match with a 15-7 win.
Berzins tallied a match-high 22 kills, while Bunting added 12 kills and five service aces and Michael Hutz recorded his second double-double of the season with 54 assists and 13 digs.
Loyola will play its third match in a row tomorrow night at Grand Canyon beginning at 8 p.m. Central.
