Feb. 5, 2014

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Romeoville, Ill. - Thomas Jaeschke hammered 18 kills and added a team-high nine digs as No. 2 Loyola raced past No. 10 Lewis, 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19), tonight in a rematch of the 2013 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball title match last year at Neil Carey Arena in Romeoville. The Ramblers improve to 8-1 (2-0 MIVA) while sending the Flyers to 7-3 (0-1) with the loss.

"It was a great conference win on the road against a tough Lewis team," said head coach Shane Davis. "We did a great job with our serving pressure and were able to win some rallies, which was important."

The first set was tight throughout as the teams were tied nine times to get to 9-9. A Geoff Powell kill and a block gave Lewis a 17-15 lead and the teams traded points all the way to 23-22 before Loyola made a push. A Cody Caldwell kill pulled the teams even for the 15th time and the Ramblers grabbed a set point (24-23) after a block from Joseph Smalzer and Nicholas Olson. That would be all the opportunity that the visitors needed, as a Lewis attack error gave Loyola the pivotal opening set, 25-23. Jaeschke was terrific, hammering seven kills on eight swings to lead LU, who hit .407 in the frame as a team.

Lewis rebounded in the second set and jumped on top early, scoring four of the first five points. A Flyer block later made it 8-3 and the hosts pushed the advantage to six (15-9) midway through the set after consecutive Loyola errors. A four-point run on the serve of Dainis Berzins helped the Ramblers get within a point at 16-15 but Lewis was able to right the ship, scoring seven of the next nine points to re-open a 23-17 lead and a Rambler service error gave the Flyers a 25-21 lead that evened the match at one set apiece.

The Ramblers stormed out of the gates in the third set, using consecutive aces from Smalzer to grab a 7-1 lead. The lead ballooned to nine (14-5) after a stuff from Jaeschke and Owen McAndrews but Lewis was able to chip away and eventually pulled within four (18-14) on a Jacob Schmiegelt kill. However, two kills and an ace from Jaeschke helped Loyola regain its rhythm and extend the lead to six, 21-15, and LU cruised from there, using kills from Berzins and Smalzer to wrap up a 25-17 win.

Using the poise of a veteran team, Loyola came out hungry in the fourth set. Three Berzins kills staked the Ramblers to an early 6-2 lead and forced Lewis to play from behind. Lewis pulled within three, 14-11, on a Powell ace but a service error gave LU the ball and Smalzer followed with a kill and an ace to boost the lead back to six (17-11) and the Ramblers were never seriously threatened the rest of the way, with a Lewis service error accounting for the final point.

Jaeschke drilled 17 of his 18 kills in the first three sets while Berzins picked up the slack in the fourth, putting down six of his 10 kills in the final frame. Smalzer added seven kills and three aces while McAndrews pitched in with seven kills and three blocks. Powell led Lewis with 14 points.

"I thought Dainis did a great job for us off the bench tonight," continued Davis. "He gave us a big lift, particularly in the fourth set with his offense."

Loyola steps out of conference for a Saturday match (Feb. 8) against McKendree. First serve from Gentile Arena is scheduled for 4 p.m.