Jan. 2, 2014

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CHICAGO - In a rematch of last season's national semifinal game, the Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team rallied past No. 1 UC Irvine in five sets (24-26, 25-19, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12) to earn a win over the two-time defending national champion. The victory is the second time in program history that the Ramblers have beaten a top-ranked team, with its lone victory being a win over Penn State in 2009.

"It was a great win for our team," said head coach Shane Davis. "It was good for us to come out on our home court against the top team in the nation and play the way we did on January 2. I thought we looked very good for early January."

In the opening set, senior Joe Smalzer had six kills and two service aces to help the Ramblers to an early lead over the Anteaters. A monstrous kill by the senior gave the Ramblers a 9-7 advantage, which was followed by an attack error by Irvine senior Scott Kevorken and a kill by junior Zack La Cavera to make the set 10-8. Loyola then went on to score five unanswered points before Irvine senior Connor Hughes ended the drought with a kill. The Anteaters tied the set 22-22 on an error by Loyola and would go on to win the set 26-24 behind a .400 hitting percentage.

A Cody Caldwell kill opened the second set, which was close throughout. The Anteaters held a 12-9 to prompt a Loyola timeout before the Ramblers charged back to tie the set 15-15 on an Irvine attack error. The teams traded points to 17-17 before redshirt freshman Owen McAndrews entered the match with a monstrous kill to give the Ramblers an 18-17 advantage, which they held onto until the close of the second set in a 25-19 triumph. After hitting just .194 in the first set, Loyola hit .400 in the second with Nick Olson providing three of the team's blocks.

Just as they did in last year's national semifinal game, Irvine scored the first three points of the third set as it looked to take the lead in the match; however, a Smalzer kill and two Irvine attack errors stemmed the tide. The Ramblers quickly took an 12-8 lead on a Collin Mehring service error before Irvine stormed back to tie the match 20-20. After a Loyola timeout, five Irvine attack errors led to the Anteaters' demise and the Ramblers took the set 26-24.

Both teams hit just .133 in the fourth set, with the Anteaters jumping out to a 15-9 lead. Cody Caldwell had three kills as the Ramblers battled back to pull within seven at 21-14, but it wasn't enough to overtake the Anteaters who closed the set 25-17. Smalzer led the Ramblers with four digs in the fourth.

Thomas Jaeschke opened the fifth set with a service ace to set the tone for Loyola's ultimate victory. Though Irvine took an early lead, Loyola battled back with kills by Olson and Smalzer to tie the set at 5-5. Two attack errors by the Anteaters gave Loyola a 7-5 lead that it would hold onto for the rest of the set. The Ramblers hit a whopping .562 in the fifth set, holding Irvine to a .375 hitting percentage. Kills by Olson and Smalzer gave the Ramblers a 14-11 lead, with Olson recording the final point with a kill to take the set 15-12.

The Ramblers now look to tomorrow night's matchup with No. 3 BYU inside Gentile Arena at 7:00 p.m. The match is the first of two weekend contests for the Ramblers, who finish up this three-game home stand with No. 11 USC at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.