Oct. 19, 2013
Box Score
Wichita, Kan. - Wichita State used a 7-1 run to close out a tight opening set and never looked back, knocking off Loyola 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-9) tonight at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan. The Ramblers drop to 8-13 (3-6 Missouri Valley) after suffering their fourth consecutive loss while Wichita State (19-4, 8-1) remains in a tie at the top of the MVC standings.
"Wichita State is a very good volleyball team," said head coach Chris Muscat. "Every night is a tough match in this league. We need to put in another good week of practice this week and get ready to protect our home court next weekend."
Wichita State got off to a hot start, opening up an early 8-3 lead before Loyola rallied. A Laura Purcell kill and a Vicki Wrobel ace capped an 8-3 LU run that tied things up at 11-all and the Ramblers were down by only one (17-16) after back-to-back kills from Maureen Carls. After the teams traded points to 18-17, the Shockers took over, scoring seven of the last eight points to take the opening set, 25-18.
The Shockers jumped out early again in the second set, taking an 8-2 lead after consecutive Ashley Andrade kills. Loyola had trouble stringing points together the rest of the way. A Carls kill pulled LU within 14-7 midway through the frame but the Ramblers would get no closer with a Taylor Brownlee kill wrapping up a 25-12 WSU win.
The daunting task of overcoming a 0-2 deficit was made tougher as WSU again raced out to an 8-2 lead in the third set and never looked back, scoring nine of the last 10 points to finish with a flourish.
Loyola hit just .052 for the match while the Shockers were clicking on all cylinders, posting a .443 efficiency.
Carls led LU with seven kills but was held to a -.074 hitting percentage (7-9-27). Purcell finished with five kills while Stephanie Kinane posted a team-high nine digs.
Loyola opens the second half of Missouri Valley play next Friday (Oct. 25) when it hosts Southern Illinois at Gentile Arena.
