Box Score

CHICAGO - Morgan Reardon led a balanced attack with 12 kills but it was not enough as Loyola dropped a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-23) decision to Illinois State tonight at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers slip to 6-11 (2-6 MVC) with their third consecutive loss while the Redbirds (13-5, 7-0) stay tied with UNI atop the Valley standings.

Loyola struggled out of the gates, falling behind 8-3 in the opening set after an error. The Ramblers got back within three, 11-8, on a block from Libby Bresser and Brittany Brown, but the Redbirds slowly extended their lead and grabbed an 18-12 edge on a block of their own. A Maureen Carls kill helped LU side-out but the visitors closed strong, scoring seven of the last 10 points to take the opening set, 25-15. Loyola struggled to find its feet offensively and hit just .028 in the frame.

Three Reardon kills helped stake Loyola to the early lead in the second set but Jaelyn Keene rifled three consecutive aces as part of a five-point scoring run that gave Illinois State the lead back. Bresser had a kill and a block to help the Ramblers get within a point, 13-12, but three LU hitting errors helped ISU push out to a 17-13 advantage. Loyola hung in there and was able to side-out consistently to get to 20-18 but the guests were better down the stretch, again closing with a flourish, this time scoring five of the final six points to earn a 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Illinois State jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set but Loyola would battle back. Kills from Reardon and Brown helped the home team get within a point and the Ramblers eventually pulled even at 8-8 after consecutive ISU errors. The teams went back-and-forth to 13-all before two Loyola errors gave Illinois State a bit of breathing room. Kills from Reardon and Carls helped Loyola rally from a 20-16 deficit and it was a 22-22 game later after a Reardon kill. However, kills from Keene and Ashley Rosch gave the Redbirds a pair of match points and Rosch made good on the second one to keep their perfect conference record intact.

Reardon shook off a slow start to finish with 12 kills and she received support from Carls (nine kills), Brown (eight) and Emily Carr, who had eight kills in her first action since Oct. 4, 2013. Stephanie Kinane led Loyola's defense with a match-high 20 digs.

Loyola stays home next week and entertains Bradley on Friday night at Gentile Arena.