Feb. 15, 2014

Box Score

Phoenix, Ariz. - After sweeping Grand Canyon last night, the No. 1 Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team backed up their victory with another sweep of the Antelopes tonight. With the three-set win (25-12, 26-24, 25-12), the Ramblers improve to 11-1 (4-0 MIVA) on the year.

In the opening set, the two teams traded points until the 8-all before a Thomas Jaeschke service ace made the score 9-8. For the rest of the set, the Ramblers would never give up their lead. After a Jaeschke kill brought the score to 13-11, Loyola went on a streak of eight unanswered points to take a 21-11 lead. A kill by Grand Canyon's Gerrard Lipscombe momentarily stemmed the tide at the 21-12 mark, but the Ramblers continued to break away and scored the next four points to definitively win the set 25-12.

Grand Canyon jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the second set, scoring the first three points of the set unanswered. The `Lopes continued to build on their lead, ahead by as many as three points at the 12-9 mark after a bad set by Peter Hutz. The Antelope momentum forced a Loyola timeout, and the Ramblers came out blazing after the break. A service error by Grand Canyon's Ben Ponnett and kills by Nicholas Olson and Joe Smalzer tied the set at the 12-all. Several points later, a Lipscombe kill gave Grand Canyon a 23-20 lead, but it was short lived. Kills by Jaeschke and Owen McAndrews, as well as a Grand Canyon attack error closed the gap and tied the set 23-23. A Connor Dougherty kill set the `Lopes up for a match point, but the service error that followed stemmed the tide and tied the match again at the 24-all. An Antelope attack error and a Jaeschke kill sealed the deal for the Ramblers, who won the set 26-24.

Loyola came out hot in third set, taking a five-point lead when a Jaeschke kill made the score 11-6. The Ramblers then scored five unanswered points, leading by ten off a Cody Caldwell kill at the 16-6 mark. Loyola continued to run away with the set, taking their biggest lead of the night when a Olson kill made the score 23-11. After a McAndrews kill brought the Ramblers to match point, a Dougherty kill brought the `Lopes back within 12. However, another McAndrews kill closed out the set 25-12.

Jaeschke was terrific, slamming 14 kills while operating at a .571 efficiency. The sophomore also contributed six digs and two service aces. Smalzer also added 10 kills, while Hutz's seven digs led Loyola's defensive effort.

The Ramblers return to action on Feb. 15 when they travel to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State at 6:30 p.m.