Sept. 28, 2010
Box Score
Peoria, Ill. - Mallory Curran led a balanced attack with 12 kills as Loyola snapped its three-match losing streak with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-19) sweep of Bradley tonight at Bradley University Arena in Peoria, Ill. The Ramblers even their record at 7-7 with the win while the Braves slump to 4-11 with the loss.
Curran had a kill and a block in a 5-1 LU spurt that gave the Ramblers a 10-8 lead in the opening set. Bradley pulled even at 16 on a service ace but three straight hitting error pushed Loyola back out to a 19-16 lead. However, the Braves had another push left and forged a 21-21 tie after consecutive blocks. The teams traded points to 22-all before two Colleen Francis kills gave the Ramblers a set point, which Melissa Hastings immediately cashed in to close out a 25-22 win. Curran led the way for the Ramblers with five kills and LU's defense held Bradley to a .042 hitting percentage in the set.
Loyola stormed out of the gate in the second set, using three Diana Schulte kills and two Hastings aces to take a 6-1 lead. Bradley slowly chipped away and eventually caught the Ramblers at 13 after a Lauren Zerante kill. Loyola never fell behind and a kill and ace later from Curran put the visitors back on top, 18-15. The hosts hung tough, getting as close as a single point down the stretch, before a service error pushed the Ramblers to set point with a 24-22 lead. Again, one chance was all LU needed, with Curran coming up with another kill to give the Ramblers a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. Curran and Schulte each had four kills in the set to lead LU.
Four different Loyola players notched kills in the early stages of the third set as the Ramblers jumped out to an 8-5 lead. The lead ballooned to 14-8 on a BU error before Bradley rallied. Two Amy Angelos kills made it a 15-13 game but Loyola rattled off the next three, the last coming on a Francis/Candice Carajohn block, to gain back some breathing room. The Braves would get as close as two (20-18) but no closer, with Francis capping off the win with her ninth kill of the night.
Curran had her way in the middle, rapping out the 12 kills against just one error in 20 swings (12-1-20, .550) to lead the Ramblers. Francis saw her streak of three straight double-doubles come to a close but she was still effective, posting nine kills and 10 digs, while Hastings had a nice all-around match, finishing with nine kills, 12 digs and a career-best four aces.
Loyola returns to the rigors of Horizon League play this weekend as it makes its yearly swing through Wisconsin. The Ramblers open play on Friday night with a 7 p.m. match at Green Bay.
