Feb. 8, 2014
Box Score
CHICAGO - On the heels of its win at No. 10 Lewis during the week, No. 2 Loyola took care of business at home, trouncing McKendree, 3-0 (25-16, 25-6, 25-11), this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers improve to 9-1 with the win while the Bobcats, a first-year program that will join the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) next season, drop to 1-10 overall.
"It was nice to get some different guys out there today and let them get some game action," said head coach Shane Davis. "Was a good, all-around team effort today."
Loyola's superior size, strength and experience were evident from the opening serve and two Torey Darin kills helped stake the home team to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Four consecutive Caldwell kills pushed the lead to 8-2 and he teamed with Nick Olson for back-to-back blocks later to make it a 12-4 lead. The Ramblers took a 20-12 lead on an Olson/Diego Rodriguez block and a McKendree error gave Loyola the opening set, 25-16. Loyola hit .476 in the frame while holding its guests to a .000 efficiency (7-7-16).
Caldwell was a one-man show early in the second set as Loyola took control early. The junior attacker had a hand in 12 of Loyola's first 15 points, courtesy of eight kills, three aces and a block. The eighth kill gave the Ramblers a 15-2 lead and Trevor Novotny ripped back-to-back aces later to make it 23-5 before a block from Olson and Robert Chilcoat capped the 25-6 win. The six points allowed are a program-best since the NCAA changed the format to the first to 25 points before the 2011 season.
Loyola moved out to an 8-3 lead in the third set on a block from Olson and Novotny but McKendree battled back to get within 10-7 on a Mike Polizzi kill. The lead was still only 14-9 until Novotny stepped to the service line and served up six straight points to give the home team a commanding 20-9 lead and the Ramblers would cruise from there, with Darin getting the final kill on match point.
Loyola finished the match with a .554 (37-6-56) efficiency while holding the Bobcats to a -.167 (13-23-60) mark. The Ramblers' block was a key all night as they racked up 16 blocks for the match, 8.5 coming in the third set.
Caldwell finished with 13 kills on 16 errorless swings and added four blocks and three aces to lead Loyola. Olson pitched in with six kills (6-0-6, 1.000) and seven blocks while Novotny (six kills) and Chilcoat (three kills, seven blocks) gave a lift off the bench.
The Ramblers return to action next Friday with a Valentine's Day trip to Grand Canyon. The teams will face-off on back-to-back nights, starting with a 7 p.m. match on Feb. 14
