Oct. 29, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Visiting Milwaukee hit .343 for the match and Loyola struggled all night to find its rhythm as the Ramblers slumped to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-17) loss tonight at Alumni Gym. The loss sends Loyola to 9-15 (2-10 Horizon) while the Panthers maintain at least a share of the Horizon League lead, moving to 16-8 (11-1).

The first set was close early on but two Elizabeth Egerer kills and a service ace pushed UWM out to an 8-5 lead. A Kerri Schuh kill later made it a 13-6 lead before a pair of Colleen Francis kills helped the Ramblers trim the deficit to four (13-9). However, Milwaukee's offense was clicking and the Panthers were slowly able to extend the lead, eventually taking the opening set by a 25-16 count.

Milwaukee carried the momentum into the second set, racing out to an early 5-1 lead after a block. Loyola managed to find its feet and kills from Francis, Mallory Curran and Natalie Fiore helped the Ramblers get within a pair, 9-7. Kills from Francis and Melissa Hastings later pulled the hosts into an 11-all tie and the set went back-and-forth until a UWM error made it 16-16. An Egerer kill gave the Panthers the lead and the ball and Morgan Potter served up six straight points to give UWM a commanding 23-16 lead. Milwaukee managed to side-out from there, winning the set 25-18 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Ramblers were energized in the early stages of the third set, ripped off the first three points of the frame and taking a 6-2 lead after another Francis kill. However, UWM responded in a big way, reeling off 16 of the next 19 points to take charge (18-9) and build enough of a cushion to withstand a late Loyola run that saw the Ramblers get within four (20-16) before a Mary Beth O'Brien kill closed the door on the match.

Francis finished with nine kills and eight digs to pace the Ramblers with Diana Schulte adding eight kills. Cat Languido led the Rambler defense with a team-high 12 digs.

Loyola wraps up weekend play tomorrow afternoon with a key Horizon League match against Green Bay. The Ramblers find themselves two games behind the Phoenix for the final spot in the Horizon League tournament with four matches left. First serve from Alumni Gym is schedule for 4 p.m., following a pregame ceremony to honor Loyola's two seniors.