Nov. 5, 2010

Box Score

Cleveland, Ohio - With one of its top offensive weapons out of action, Loyola just did not have enough firepower and suffered a 3-0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-22) setback to Cleveland State tonight at Woodling Gymnasium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ramblers drop to 9-17 (2-12 Horizon) with their seventh straight loss while the Vikings avenge an early loss to LU and improve to 20-4 (10-3).

Missing Diana Schulte through illness, Loyola struggled to score in the opening two sets. Cleveland State ripped off 10 of the first 11 points of the match and never let up, as the Ramblers scored consecutive points just once in the opening stanza. Loyola found itself down 8-0 in the second set as well before trying to rally. A Melissa Hastings kill and a block from Mallory Curran and Karen Sueppel cut the deficit to five (10-5) and the Ramblers were still within shouting distance after a Curran ace but a 9-0 CSU burst helped the Vikings open a 24-9 lead and wrap up a 25-10, second-set win.

The third set was tight throughout with two Hastings kills helping the Ramblers take their first lead of the match, 12-11. A Natalie Fiore kill later gave LU a 15-13 lead but the Vikings responded, scoring five straight to turn a 16-14 deficit into a 19-16 lead. Instead of folding the tent, Loyola answered back and consecutive blocks from the tandem of Curran and Fiore gave the Ramblers a 22-21 lead and some momentum. However, Cleveland State would regroup and two kills each from Kara Koch and Amy Benz wrapped up the match.

Hastings and Sueppel led the Ramblers with six kills each, as leading hitter Colleen Francis was held to just one kill in 27 swings. Libero Cat Languido and Kristen Haggenjos led the LU defense with 10 digs each.

Loyola wraps up its weekend trip with a 1 p.m. CT match tomorrow afternoon at Youngstown State.