SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -

Final Score: Missouri State 3, Loyola 0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-14)
Records: Loyola (8-11, 3-3 MVC); Missouri State (13-7, 4-2 MVC)
Location: Hammons Student Center -- Springfield, Mo.
Stats: Box Score  | Season Stats 

In Short
Missouri State hit .396 and Lily Johnson recorded 16 kills as the host Bears picked up a 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 victory over Loyola University Chicago tonight at the Hammons Student Center. Morgan Reardon posted nine kills and 10 digs to lead the Ramblers who dropped their second straight match, after having a three-match winning streak snapped at Wichita State last night. With the setback, Loyola falls to 8-11 overall and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

How It Happened
Loyola trailed 7-6 in the opening set before Missouri State strung together seven unanswered points to open up a 14-6 lead en route to a 25-14 victory. During the decisive 7-0 run, the Ramblers committed four hitting errors and one service error.

Looking to bounce back in set two, Loyola got out to a 5-3 advantage before the Bears scored seven of the next eight points to grab a 10-6 lead they would never surrender. From there, the Ramblers would get no closer than three the rest of the set.

Missouri State put Loyola in a 5-0 hole to open set three. Trailing 12-6, the Ramblers cut the deficit to four thanks to a Lauren Stefanski kill and a MSU error, but that was as close as Loyola would get the remainder of the way as the Bears would lead by as many as 11 points on the way to a 25-14 victory.

Loyola hit .351 (16-3-37) in the third set, but the Shockers tallied 11 of the final 17 points of the set to turn a 14-14 tie into a 25-20 victory.

Looking At The Numbers
- Loyola’s offense had a difficult time getting going tonight as it managed to hit a season-low .081 (27-19-99).

- Reardon just missed out on her seventh double-double of the season, finishing with nine kills and 10 digs.

- Five Bears hit better than .350 on the night, led by Lynsey Wright, who hit .556 (12-2-18).

- Loyola has played just four three-set matches this season, but three of those have come in the last four outings.

Up Next
Loyola opens up a five-match homestand on Oct. 14 when it plays host to Drake. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.