Sept. 24, 2009

Box Score

Moon Township, Pa. - Dana VanDiggelen posted a match-high eight kills and added nine digs to lead Loyola to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-20) sweep of Robert Morris tonight in Moon Township, Pa. The win, which capped off a long day of travel, pushed the Ramblers to 8-7 for the season. Robert Morris drops to 3-12 with the loss.

"I am happy that we were able to come away with a win tonight," said head coach Marcie Wolbeck. "Dana played well both offensively and defensively tonight and Lauren had a nice match as well. It was nice to have this match tonight to get us ready for the conference match tomorrow night in Youngstown."

The opening set was close throughout as neither team enjoyed more than a two-point lead until a Loyola error gave Robert Morris a 17-14 advantage. The Ramblers were still down 19-16 when they made a charge. A Lauren Ditscheit kill gave LU service and it was Ditscheit who served up the next four points, giving the Ramblers a 21-19 lead. The Colonels were able to forge a 21-21 tie on a Loyola error but kills from VanDiggelen, Karen Sueppel and Diana Schulte took the Ramblers to set point and, on the third try, a RMU service error closed out the set.

The second set followed a similar pattern and Loyola grabbed a 16-13 lead after a Melissa Hastings kill and a Robert Morris error. The Colonels roared back, scoring the next four points to grab the lead before an error helped the Ramblers pull into an 18-all tie. Loyola saved its best volleyball of the set for the end and the Ramblers reeled off the last seven points, two coming on Ditscheit kills before a Colleen Francis ace secured the win and gave Loyola a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

A VanDiggelen kill and a Francis ace helped the Ramblers continue their run into the third set, taking a 4-0 on a RMU setting error. A block by Sueppel and Mallory Curran made it a 6-1 lead and Loyola seemed poised to run away with the set. The home team had other ideas, scoring four of the next five points to get back into it but the Ramblers were able consistently side-out and keep the Colonels at bay. Robert Morris was finally able to string a couple points together, pulling within one (15-14) on a Rambler error, but a big solo block from Curran on the next play helped stem the tide. Loyola's lead was only two heading into the late stages of the set before kills from Francis and Ditscheit helped extend the margin to five, 22-17. Robert Morris would get no closer than two down the stretch and a Colonel error gave the Ramblers the win.

VanDiggelen had only one error to go with her eight kills on 29 swings to lead the Ramblers. Ditscheit pitched in with five kills, 22 assists and seven digs. Alyse Serritella led LU's back row with 10 digs.

The Ramblers return to action tomorrow night when they battle Youngstown State at 6 p.m. CT.