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Katie Johnson led Loyola with 11 kills in the loss to Clemson

Women's Volleyball

Loyola Falls To Clemson, 3-0, At DePaul Challenge

Sept. 4, 2009

Box Score

CHICAGO - Katie Johnson had a team-high 11 kills but Clemson's size at the net proved to be too much as the Ramblers dropped a 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-19) decision to the Tigers tonight in the opening match of the DePaul Challenge. Loyola slips to 1-4 while Clemson improves to 3-1 with the win.

The Ramblers got off to the early lead in the opening set, grabbing a 5-4 edge after a Colleen Francis ace and a block from Johnson and Natalie Pounovich. However, two blocks and two service aces highlighted a 5-0 Clemson response that put LU in a 9-5 hole. A Johnson kill momentarily stemmed the tide but the Tigers rattled off the next three points to make it a 12-6 lead and the Ramblers would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

The Tigers pounced quickly in the second set, scoring seven of the first nine points before the Ramblers settled in. Kills from Johnson and Dana VanDiggelen sparked a three-point LU spurt that cut the deficit to just two (8-6) and, moments later, the Ramblers grabbed an 11-10 lead after a Johnson ace and a Diana Schulte put-away. The lead would prove to be short-lived as the Tigers rode Lia Proctor's serve to nine straight points, taking a commanding 19-11 lead in the process, and they were able to side-out the rest of the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Another Johnson kill and a Proctor hitting error helped Loyola get out to a 9-7 lead in the third set as the Ramblers attempted to mount a comeback. A 4-0 run later, punctuated by a Pounovich kill, gave LU a 15-12 lead and some momentum but CU would battle back, eventually taking a 19-17 lead after a pair of Natalie Patzin kills. Loyola managed to pull within one, 20-19, on a Johnson kill but could not get over the hump with Clemson pulling away down the stretch to complete the sweep.

Loyola had just eight fewer kills than Clemson for the match (38-30) but the Tigers dominated play at the net, out-blocking the Ramblers 11-1 for the match.

In addition to Johnson, Pounovich added eight kills and Alyse Serritella led LU's back row with 14 digs.

Loyola continues tournament play with a pair of matches tomorrow. The Ramblers battle host DePaul at 12:30 p.m. before battling Western Illinois at 5 p.m.

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