Sept. 25, 2010
Box Score
CHICAGO - Colleen Francis notched her third double-double in as many Horizon League matches but it was not enough as Loyola struggled all afternoon on the offensive end in a 3-1 (25-23, 25-15, 29-31, 25-14) setback at UIC. The Ramblers drop to 6-7 (0-3 Horizon) while the Flames even their season record (7-7, 2-2).
"I was very disappointed with our play today," said head coach Marcie Wolbeck. "We did not seem mentally prepared at all to play. Every match in this league this year is going to be close and most sets are going to be decided by a couple of points so concentration and focus are of the utmost importance."
Loyola was on its heels from the opening serve, as UIC rattled off four of the first five points to take the early lead. Loyola managed to chip away and finally pulled even at 15 after a Francis kill and a UIC error. The Flames responded by rattling off the next three points and opened a four-point edge (21-17) on a Casie Sullivan kill. Loyola turned to its block to get back in the set, using three stuffs to draw even again at 23-all. A Kelsey Safranek kill took UIC to set point and Sullivan cashed it in with another kill to close out a 25-23 Flames win.
Three attack errors and a service error helped UIC grab an 8-1 lead in the second set and, despite LU reeling off the next three points, the Ramblers struggled to find a way back. A 5-0 UIC run turned a 17-8 lead into a commanding 22-8 advantage and the hosts cruised from there to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Bridget Nickel had a kill and teamed with Candice Carajohn for a block early in the third set as the Ramblers tallied the first three points of the frame. UIC rallied and was able to play from in front until two Francis kills helped Loyola snatch a 16-14 lead. The Ramblers kept pushing and grabbed a 23-19 lead on a UIC error but the final two points proved elusive. Two Safranek kills and two LU errors pushed the Flames to match point at 24-23 before Diana Schulte kept the Ramblers alive. Loyola had to stave off three more match points against before a Mallory Curran ace gave the Ramblers their first crack at the set with a 28-27 lead. UIC's Sullivan erased that opportunity but Nickel and Carajohn teamed up for a block moments later that gave the Ramblers a 30-29 lead and Francis was able to wrap it up, sending the match to a fourth set with a 31-29 win.
Unfortunately, Loyola was unable to take advantage of the opportunity as UIC raced out to a 7-3 lead and effectively sealed the match with a 7-0 run that turned a 9-7 lead into a 16-7 bulge. The Ramblers would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way as UIC gained a measure of revenge for Loyola's five-set win in this fixture last year.
Francis was the only Rambler in double figures, finishing with 12 kills and 12 digs. Schulte added seven kills but hit -.053 (7-9-38). Nickel also pitched in with seven kills and six blocks in a terrific performance off the bench.
"I really thought Bridget gave us a great spark off the bench," said Wolbeck. "Seven kills and six blocks in, essentially, two sets was exactly what we needed."
Loyola returns to action on Tuesday night with a 7 p.m. match at Bradley.
