Box Score

CHICAGO - On a night in which Loyola said goodbye to seniors Libby Bresser, Laura Purcell and Mary Kate Styler, the Ramblers turned in a spirited effort in an eventual 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-23) loss to UNI tonight in the season finale at Gentile Arena. Loyola's season comes to an end with a 9-19 overall record (5-13 Missouri Valley). The win solidifies a second-place finish for UNI, which heads into next week's MVC Championship with a 20-10 (14-4) record.

UNI jumped out to a 9-6 lead in the opening set before kills from Maureen Carls and Purcell helped the Ramblers back into a 9-9 tie. The visitors still enjoyed a 15-14 lead before a Bresser kill, a Panther error and a Morgan Reardon ace thrust LU into a 17-15 lead. The margin grew to five (22-17) later after consecutive stuffs from Purcell and Carls but UNI made a final push, rattling off the next three to cut the deficit to two, 22-20. However, two Carls kills and one from Purcell allowed Loyola to side-out the rest of the way and take the opening set, 25-22. Carls was terrific, hammering down seven kills in eight errorless swings in the set while Purcell added six.

The visitors jumped out early in the second set, scoring the first four points and eventually extending to a 12-5 advantage. Loyola trailed 14-6 before mounting a comeback, as Carls had two kills and teamed with Purcell for a block to highlight a four-point run that cut the deficit to four. The Panthers answered by scoring five of the next seven to rebuild their lead and, despite Loyola getting as close as 19-15, the visitors closed strong, evening the match with a 25-16 victory.

UNI carried that momentum over into the third set, jumping out to a 5-2 lead and, later, using a 7-0 run to open up a commanding 15-4 lead. Loyola scored three straight to fend off the onslaught but the Ramblers could not string any points together and UNI took a 2-1 lead in the match after a 25-15, third-set win.

Loyola answered the bell in the fourth set, with Kathleen Vogel opening the frame with an ace and Purcell capping off a set-opening, 4-1 run with a kill. The Ramblers led 8-4 after a Sami Hansen kill but UNI battled back, eventually catching LU at 9-all on an error. Another Carls kill staked Loyola to a 12-10 lead but the Panthers answered right back with an 8-1 run to take a seemingly comfortable 18-13 lead as the set headed towards the late stages. The hosts chipped away at the deficit, getting within a pair (22-20) on a Purcell and Bresser block and the duo teamed up again minutes later for another stuff to forge a 23-23 tie. However, UNI's Leigh Pudwill ripped back-to-back kills to close out the set, and the match.

The senior trio all started and saw extensive playing time for the Ramblers tonight, with Purcell finishing with a team-high 13 kills and five blocks. Bresser finished with 10 kills in 16 attempts and added three block assists to give her an even 300 for her career, second on LU's career list during the rally scoring era. Styler added a kill and two assists. Stephanie Kinane added a match-high 28 digs to lead the Ramblers with Reardon contributing 20 digs and nine kills.