Oct. 25, 2014

Box Score

Springfield, Mo. - Host Missouri State hit .366 for the match and Loyola could never find its rhythm as the Ramblers suffered a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-17) loss to the Bears tonight in Springfield, Mo. Loyola slides to 7-13 (3-8 Missouri Valley) while Missouri State (16-7, 9-2) solidifies its place near the top of the standings.

The first set was close in the early stages, with Loyola inching out to an 8-7 lead after a block from Libby Bresser and Brittany Brown. Missouri State was able to string together three straight points to take a 12-9 lead but Loyola was still within two, 14-12, after a Maureen Carls kill before the home team closed strong, scoring 11 of the last 17 points to take the opening set. Missouri State hit a sizzling .484 in the frame as Loyola struggled to put together any type of scoring run.

A four-point run turned a 7-5 lead into an 11-5 bulge as Missouri State jumped out to the early lead in the second set. A block from Brown and Carls helped keep the Ramblers within striking distance (12-8) but the Bears scored the next four and eight of the next 10 points to take a commanding lead. Loyola tried to battle back but could not and an Andrea Beaty kill capped a 25-15 win that gave Missouri State a 2-0 lead in the match.

Five straight MSU points early in the third set put the Ramblers in a 9-3 hole but the visitors battled back. A Bresser ace made it a 13-9 game and was part of an 8-2 run that pulled the visitors within a single point, 15-14. However, the Bears had the answer, scoring the next four points to re-open a five-point advantage and Loyola would get no closer than three points the rest of the way.

Missouri State out-hit the Ramblers, .366-.126 as the Ramblers were limited to just 28 team kills for the match.

Brown and Carr led the way for Loyola with eight kills apiece. Lily Johnson hammered a match-high 21 kills to lead Missouri State.

Loyola returns home for a pair of key Valley matches next week, starting with a Friday night clash with Evansville.