March 4, 2009

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - The Loyola men's volleyball team continued its five-match road trip Wednesday evening, dropping a 3-0 (23-30, 27-30, 21-30) decision at No. 2 UC Irvine. The Anteaters improve to 15-3, while Loyola falls to 8-6.

The Ramblers got off to a solid start in the opening game, leading by as much as three early on at 14-11 after a UC Irvine service error and a pair of service aces by Mike Bunting. The Anteaters rallied to even the score at 17 and from there, went on a 6-1 run to take a 23-18 advantage and never looked back. An attack error and kill by Nick Lamoureux pulled the Ramblers within four, 25-21, but that was as close as they would get, as the hosts went on to take the first game, 30-23.

UC Irvine raced out to a 7-2 lead in the second game and maintained the lead until Loyola knotted the score at 14 after a kill by Lamoureux and Anteater attack error. The hosts responded with a 3-0 run to extend the advantage back to three, 17-14, but the Ramblers again battled back and behind three straight kills from Krisjanis Berzins, tied the game at 17. UC Irvine answered with a 4-0 run and was able to hold on for the 30-27 win.

Loyola found itself down early again in the third game at 6-2, before chipping away and taking the lead 9-8 after a kill by George Kamberos. The two teams exchanged points over the next several plays, before the Anteaters went on a 4-0 run to take an 18-14 advantage and the Ramblers never got closer than five down stretch, ultimately falling 30-21.

Berzins tallied a team-best 11 kills, while Kamberos added a season-high 11 digs and Michael Hutz contributed a match-high 35 assists and two service aces.

Loyola wraps up its road trip Friday evening at California Baptist in a match beginning at 9 p.m. Central.