Box Score

CHICAGO - The top-ranked Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team fell to No. 2 Lewis in four sets (21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 27-29) on Monday night, snapping the Ramblers' 40-game win streak that dates back to January of 2014. The Ramblers outhit the Flyers .323 to .308, but service errors and passing errors plagued Loyola throughout the game. A trio of Ramblers hit in double digits, including Thomas Jaeschke who recorded a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs.

Loyola jumped out to an early 5-1 lead to begin the first set, led by kills from Jaeschke, Nicholas Olson and Cody Caldwell, but the Flyers rallied to tie the game at 6-6. Lewis then scored three of the next four points to take a 9-7 lead, forcing a Rambler timeout. The teams battled back and forth until back-to-back Loyola points, a Peter Hutz block and a Ben Plaisted kill, pulled the Ramblers to within one point and forced a Lewis timeout. Loyola stormed out of the timeout, scoring four of the next five points behind back-to-back kills from Jeff Jendryk, along with one apiece from Caldwell and Plaisted, to take a 19-17 lead. The teams traded points until Lewis ended the set with a 5-0 run to win it, 25-21, and take a 1-0 lead.

The second set began with the two teams trading points back-and-forth until the Flyers scored three unanswered to take a 13-11 lead, forcing a Rambler timeout. Loyola rallied out of the timeout to score four of the next six points behind kills from Olson, Caldwell and Jaeschke, tying the game at 15-15. The teams traded points until back-to-back kills from Olson gave the Ramblers a 22-20 lead, followed by kills from Hutz, Caldwell and Plaisted to end the set at 25-22, tying the game at one set apiece.

After trading points to open the third set, Loyola took a 10-7 lead behind two Jendryk kills, but Lewis scored four unanswered take go up 11-10 and force a Rambler timeout. The Flyers continued their run out of the timeout, scoring four of the next five points to increase the lead to 15-11. Loyola then scored twice on a Jaeschke kill and a block by Hutz and Olson before back-to-back kills pulled the Ramblers to within one point, but Lewis was able to hold on to the lead and ultimately win the set, 25-22.

The fourth set began with the teams battling back-and-forth until a 3-0 Lewis run gave the Flyers a 13-10 lead, forcing a Rambler timeout. Thomas Jaeschke then scored the next four Loyola points, firing three kills and a service ace, before back-to-back points from Plaisted tied the game at 16-16. After a block by Plaisted and Jendryk, Nick Olson scored back-to-back points, a kill and a block with Peter Hutz, to give the Ramblers the 19-18 lead. The teams traded points back and forth for the remainder of the set until the Flyers fired two straight service aces to end it, 29-27, and claim the 3-1 victory.

With the loss, the Ramblers fall to 13-1 on the season and 5-1 in MIVA play. Loyola returns to action on Saturday March 14 to take on MIVA rival Ohio State in Columbus.