Sept. 14, 2013
Box Score
Notre Dame, Ind. - Loyola got off to a slow start and struggled to find its rhythm, dropping a 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-20) decision to Auburn this morning at the Shamrock Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind. Loyola drops to 5-4 with the loss while Auburn continues its hot start, improving to 9-1 on the year.
"Obviously we are a little disappointed with the result," said head coach Chris Muscat. "We are beginning to identify what is needed to begin playing Loyola volleyball more consistently."
After trading the first six points of the match, Auburn took command of the opening set. After an Auburn error helped Loyola get within four, 9-5, the Tigers kicked it into high gear, scoring 16 of the next 18 points and cruised to a 25-7 win in the opening set.
Auburn raced out to a 10-4 lead in the second set before the Ramblers rallied. Kills from Maureen Carls and Kathleen Vogel and a Brittany Brown service ace highlighted a 7-0 run as Loyola took its first lead of the match (11-10). Two LU errors helped push Auburn out to a 13-11 lead but a Sami Hansen kill moments later forged a 14-14 deadlock. A service error gave the Tigers service and Kathia Rud served up six more points to give AU a 21-14 advantage. The Ramblers rallied and were able to close within five on a Libby Bresser kill and an Auburn error but a Courtney McDonald kill gave Auburn the second set, 25-18.
Loyola came out with a renewed sense of urgency in the third set and a Bresser kill had the Ramblers within a point at 9-8. Auburn rattled off the next five points to open a 14-8 lead but the Ramblers showed their resiliency, using two Brown kills and one from Emily Carr to make it a 15-12 game. However, Loyola just could not get over the hump and Auburn was able to withstand one last charge, using a kill from Camila Jersonsky to close out the match, 25-20.
The Rambler offense struggled all morning to find a flow and hit just .028 (27-24-108) for the match while Auburn operated at .262 efficiency.
Carls and Brown led Loyola with six kills each, with Brown adding 19 assists and six digs from her setter spot. Libero Stephanie Kinane had a terrific match in the back row, posting a match-high 17 digs.
Loyola wraps up tournament play this afternoon with a 4 p.m. match against Oakland.
