Oct. 22, 2011

Box Score

CHICAGO - Laura Purcell had 11 kills to lead Loyola but it was not enough as host UIC earned a 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-23) win over the Ramblers this afternoon at the Flames Athletic Center. Loyola drops to 4-16 (1-10 Horizon) while UIC moves to 14-9 (7-4) with the win.

The opening set was close through the early stages with UIC finally managing to open up some breathing room (11-7) after two Janise Dismuke kills. The lead ballooned to eight, 18-10, on a Dom Aramburu ace before Loyola rallied. Two Mary Kate Styler kills and a pair of blocks from Libby Bresser helped the Ramblers make a late charge before Aubrey Sniegowski closed out a 25-20 UIC win.

UIC scored the first three points of the second set, forcing LU to play from behind again. Two Purcell kills and a block from Natalie Pounovich and Styler helped the Ramblers pull even at 15-15 but erratic LU hitting enabled UIC to move back out to a two-point advantage. Three straight Flames points gave the home team a 22-18 lead but the Ramblers responded by rattling off the next three to get back within one, 22-21, but UIC was able to side-out the rest of the way, taking a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-23 win.

Kills from Bresser and Styler helped Loyola get out to the early lead in the third set and a Flames error helped LU extend to a 9-6 advantage. A Kristen Haggenjos kill later made it a 15-11 Rambler lead and LU still managed to play from the lead, taking a 23-21 lead on a UIC error. However, the final two points proved to be elusive as two kills and a solo block from Nicole Allgood highlighted a match-ending 4-0 spurt for UIC as the Flames closed out the season sweep.

Purcell led the Ramblers with 11 kills with Styler adding nine and Melissa Hastings seven. Kelsey Safranek posted 16 kills to lead the Flames.

Loyola steps out of conference play next Tuesday when they travel to Peoria to take on Bradley.