Oct. 12, 2012

Box Score | Photo Gallery

CHICAGO - Kathleen Vogel had a match-high 18 kills but UIC hit .279 for the match to earn a 3-1 (25-22, 25-13, 16-25, 25-13) win over the Ramblers tonight at Gentile Arena. The loss snaps Loyola's four-match winning streak and sends the Ramblers to 13-7 (5-2 Horizon) for the season while UIC improves to 12-10 (5-2) with the win.

Loyola got off to a hot start, taking an early 7-4 lead on an Anna Eytchison kill. UIC rattled off the next four to take the lead but the Ramblers battled back, using three Laura Purcell kills in a 7-2 run to grab a 14-10 advantage midway through the set. However, UIC used a six-point scoring run later to turn a 15-12 deficit into an 18-15 lead and although Loyola would get within a point on two occasions, the home team could not get over the hump with a Jasmine Dismuke kill closing out a 25-22 win.

The Flames carried their momentum over into the second set, racing out to leads of 4-1 and 9-4 in the early stages. Loyola pulled within four (10-6) on a Brittany Brown kill but the visitors scored the next six to take command and cruised to a 25-13 win.

An inspired Loyola team emerged from the locker room and the Ramblers scored the first four points of the third set. A Vogel kill and a UIC error made it a 7-1 lead and the hosts kept pushing. A block from Brown and Nichole Riedel and a Stephanie Kinane ace made it a 16-8 game and another Brown kill capped a convincing 25-16 win that kept the Ramblers in the match.

Coming off back-to-back five-set wins last weekend, Loyola used a couple of Vogel kills early in the fourth frame as it tried to extend the match. Four straight UIC points midway through the set gave the Flames a 14-9 lead and Loyola struggled to find its rhythm the rest of the way as a Sara Sternard kill closed out the match.

Vogel was terrific, leading Loyola with 18 kills (18-3-48, .312). She was joined in double figures by Purcell, who ripped 13 kills at a .379. Kelsey Safranek led UIC with 15 kills.

Loyola has the rest of the weekend off before opening the second half of its Horizon League schedule next Friday at Valparaiso.