Feb. 23, 2010
Box Score
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The 12th-ranked Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team used a .413 team hitting percentage to defeat No. 15 Lewis, 3-0 (30-20, 30-22, 30-22) on Tuesday night (Feb. 23) in the Neil Carey Arena. The Ramblers move to 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association with the win, tying the best start in program history. Lewis drops to 9-3 overall and 2-2 in the MIVA with the loss.
The Ramblers came out swinging to start the match, opening the first set with a 7-2 run after two kills from Mike Bunting and a Kris Berzins service ace. The Flyers took the next three points to cut Loyola's lead to two at 7-5, but the Ramblers took six of the next eight points to take a six-point lead at 13-7. The teams exchanged the next several points before a 5-1 Loyola run fueled by three Berzins kills put the Ramblers up by 10 at 21-11. Back-and-forth play ensued, but Loyola remained in front by a healthy margin for the rest of the frame to take a 1-0 set lead. The Ramblers outhit the Flyers, .423 - .074, in the set.
The teams went point for point to begin the second set, with a Lewis error and a Bunting kill giving the Ramblers a 9-7 lead. Five Lewis errors and a Matt Adler-Mike Hutz block then helped Loyola extend its lead to five at 17-12. Berzins' second ace of the match and an Adler-Bunting block helped the Ramblers extend their lead to eight at 22-14. Lewis took three of the next four points to climb back to within six at 23-17, but that would be the closest the Flyers would come to the Ramblers for the rest of the set, as a Lewis error closed the set in favor of Loyola.
Four kills and a block helped Loyola take a quick 6-3 lead in the third, but Lewis responded with a kill and an ace to cut the Ramblers' lead to one at 6-5. A kill from Domenic DeWaele helped Loyola extend its lead to three at 8-5. The teams swapped the next several points before back-to-back Berzins aces propelled a 11-3 Rambler run, helping Loyola take a 26-16 lead. Lewis took four of the next five points to cut Loyola's lead to six at 27-21, but the Ramblers earned three of the next four to win the set and the match.
Bunting finished with 10 kills and Mike Morice finished with an .889 hitting percentage (8-0-9) to lead the Ramblers, while Adler posted seven blocks (1 solo, 6 assist) and Tommy Becker recorded 10 digs to lead Loyola's defensive effort. Aaron Flick tallied 11 kills to lead the Flyers.
The Ramblers return to Alumni Gym next weekend to host two MIVA matches against Quincy on Friday (March 5) at 7 p.m. and Saturday (March 6) at 4 p.m.
