March 1, 2009

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Playing in its third match in three days, the fourteenth-ranked Loyola men's volleyball team snapped a two-match slump by defeating host Grand Canyon, 3-0 (30-23, 30-23, 30-22) Sunday night in Antelope Gym. The Ramblers, who also swept the Antelopes earlier in the year, improve to 8-5, while Grand Canyon falls to 2-15.

Loyola wasted no time in the first game, taking control with an early 10-5 lead behind kills from George Kamberos and Nick Lamoureux and several Antelope errors. A 3-0 run by Grand Canyon a few plays later cut the advantage to one at 13-12, before a service ace by Taylor Griffin eventually tied the game, 16-16. The Ramblers responded with a 3-0 run of their own to take back the lead for good, ultimately claiming a 30-23 opening game win.

Several attack errors by Grand Canyon helped Loyola race out to another 10-5 lead to start the second game, but this time around, the Antelopes didn't come closer than two. Kills by Krisjanis Berzins and Lamoureux midway through the game helped the Ramblers maintain a comfortable lead at 19-12. A Rambler service error allowed the Antelopes within two, 25-23, but Loyola countered with a 5-0 run behind kills from Steve Thompson and Berzins to take the second game, 30-23.

In the third game, two separate 3-0 runs by the Ramblers keyed an 18-11 advantage that all but sealed it for Loyola, as Grand Canyon never came closer than six points the rest of the way. Kamberos recorded four kills in the game, while Matt Adler, Michael Morice and Domenic Dewaele each added three in the 30-22 victory to claim the match, 3-0.

Berzins tallied a match-high 11 kills, two service aces and five digs, while Lamoureux added eight kills and a team-best .583 (8-1-12) hitting percentage and Michael Hutz recorded a match-high 39 assists for the Ramblers. As a team, Loyola out-hit Grand Canyon .310-.087 for the match.

Loyola is back in action March 4 at No. 2 UC Irvine beginning at 9 p.m. Central.