Nov. 10, 2012

Box Score

CHICAGO - Anna Eytchison ripped a match-high 23 kills but Loyola committed eight hitting errors in the fifth set in a 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 25-27, 26-24, 15-8) loss to UIC this afternoon in the regular-season finale for both teams at the Flames Athletic Center. The Ramblers conclude the regular season at 16-11 (8-6 Horizon) while the Flames improve to 18-12 (10-4).

The opening set was close throughout but Loyola opened up a slight 8-5 advantage following a Libby Bresser kill and a UIC error. The lead expanded to five (13-8) on a Vicki Wrobel service ace and the visitors still led 20-16 after another Bresser kill. UIC battled back, using back-to-back kills to get within two and the home team got within one on two different occasions, the last at 22-21, but the Ramblers held strong using a kill and a block from Brittany Brown and a UIC error to take the set.

Loyola got off to a strong start in the second set, grabbing an early 5-1 lead on a block from Eytchison and Nichole Riedel. UIC managed to stem the tide and used an 8-0 run to turn a 9-6 deficit into a 14-9 advantage. The Ramblers tried to battle back and got as close as three points on numerous occasions but could never get over the hump and the Flames scored the last three points of the frame, evening the match with a 25-19 win.

A pair of Eytchison kills helped the Ramblers get off to a good start in the third set and they opened a 13-9 lead later after kills from Eytchison and Kathleen Vogel. Another UIC run, this one a 5-0 spurt, in the middle of the set gave the hosts a 16-14 lead and the Ramblers trailed by three (18-15) later on a Nicole Allgood kill. However, Loyola would dig deep and find a way. Laura Purcell and Eytchison each had a kill and a block to get LU back in it and two Eytchison kills and a block from Brown and Riedel gave the visitors a 23-21 lead. Three straight UIC points gave them first crack at the set but a Brown kill erased that opportunity and Riedel followed with a kill to give Loyola its first set point. They failed to capitalize on the opportunity but Vogel gave them another shot at 26-25 and a UIC error provided the final point.

With its back against the wall, UIC stormed out of the gates in the fourth set, taking leads of 4-0 and 7-2 in the early going. A Riedel kill got the Ramblers within 9-7 and they pulled even later at 11 on a Brown kill. The Flames responded by scoring the next three to retake the lead but a four-point LU run later, capped by an Eytchison kill, gave the Ramblers a 17-16 lead as they looked to close out the match. UIC had an answer, scoring five of the next six to take a 21-18 lead but Loyola hung tough and used a UIC error to send it to extra points tied at 24. However, a Janise Dismuke kill and a UIC block gave the Flames a 26-24 win and sent the match to a fifth set.

Loyola pulled even at 4-all in that fifth set on another Wrobel ace but UIC scored the next six points to blow the set open and the Ramblers would get no closer than five the rest of the way.

Eytchison finished with 23 kills and 15 digs to lead the Ramblers with Brown (37 assists) and Purcell adding 13 kills apiece. Stephanie Kinane racked up a match-high 23 digs to lead the back row effort.

Loyola will enter next weekend's Horizon League Tournament as the No. 3 or No. 4 seed and begin play on Friday night (Nov. 16) in Cleveland, Ohio. Check back with loyolaramblers.com for the most up-to-date tournament information.