Box Score

Evanston, Ill. - Loyola took the opening set but could not carry over the momentum as Youngstown State grabbed the next three frames to earn a 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21) win over the Ramblers in the finale of the Wildcat Classic in Evanston, Ill. The Ramblers drop to 4-5 on the season while Youngstown State improves to 9-2 with the win.

Loyola trailed 7-4 early in the opening set before finding its feet. Three Maureen Carls kills helped the Ramblers pull even at 9-9 and another Carls put-away later gave LU a 15-13 edge. The lead grew to four (21-17) later on a block from Carls and Libby Bresser and the Ramblers coasted to the finish from there with a Morgan Reardon kill capping a 25-21, opening-set win. Carls led the way, ripping seven kills and adding three blocks in the frame with Reardon adding five kills.

Youngstown State came out strong in the second set, reeling off six of the first seven points to grab the lead. Loyola slowly chipped away at the deficit, pulling within two (13-11) after two Sami Hansen kills. A block and kills from Reardon and Kathleen Vogel forged a 17-17 tie but YSU scored the next three points to regain the lead and the Penguins would even the match with a 25-22 win. Reardon, Hansen and Vogel each had four kills in the set to lead Loyola.

The third set was a set of runs, with Loyola bolting to an early 5-2 lead. It was a 10-5 advantage later after a Carls kill but Youngstown State scored the next four points to stick around. Still, the Ramblers managed to play from in front and extended to a 17-13 lead on another Carls kill. It was a 20-17 lead after a Caroline Holt ace but the Penguins scored the next three to draw even at 20. Consecutive kills from Reardon gave LU a 22-20 lead but Youngstown State had the final, decisive spurt, scoring five of the last six points to steal a 25-23 win and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth set was close throughout, with Loyola trying to extend the match. A solo block from Vogel gave the Ramblers a 7-5 lead but Youngstown State managed to inch out to a 15-12 lead on a Val Jeffery kill. A four-point Rambler run gave them the lead back but two Lexi Egler put-aways helped the Penguins take a 19-16 lead and they never looked back, closing out the match with a 25-21 win.

Reardon led all hitters with 18 kills and added eight digs en route to being named to the all-tournament team. She was joined in double figures by Carls (15 kills) and Vogel (10 kills, 12 digs). Hansen added eight kills, six digs and three aces, as Loyola's serve was outstanding, firing 11 aces against just nine errors.

Loyola hits the road for the start of Missouri Valley Conference play next weekend. The Ramblers make their annual voyage to Iowa, taking on Northern Iowa next Friday (Sept. 19) in the opener before wrapping up the weekend on Saturday night at Drake. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.