Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (October 13, 2017) –
 
In Short
Gabi Maciagowski ripped a season-high 21 kills, but Loyola University Chicago was unable to close out a 25-18, 21-25, 14-25, 25-17, 14-16 decision to Evansville (8-12, 2-6 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. With the setback, the Ramblers fall to 1-17 overall and 0-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
How It Happened
Loyola jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the first set before Evansville mounted a rally to even the score at 12 with a 6-1 run. The Ramblers would build their lead back up to three points, at 16-13, but the Purple Aces had an answer once again and tied the set at 16. However, the host Ramblers seized control of the opener with a 6-1 run of their own that featured a pair of Elle Van Grinsven kills en route to a 25-18 victory.
 
A 7-1 spurt early in the second set allowed Evansville to snap an 8-all tie and break open a 15-9 lead before Loyola mounted a late rally that made things interesting. When Morgan Gresham and Haley Hoffman teamed up on a block to cap a 6-2 run, Loyola trimmed the deficit to 19-17. The Ramblers got as close as 22-21, but the Aces evened the match at a set apiece by tallying the final three points for a 25-21 win.
 
Evansville stormed out to an 8-2 advantage in set three and never looked back on its way to a 25-14 decision. Loyola couldn't get on track and hit just .031 (10-9-32) in the set.
 
Despite falling behind in the match, the Ramblers bounced back in set four, stringing together a 6-2 run that turned a tie into a 12-8 lead. A kill by Adeline Payne cut Loyola's edge to 15-12, but a Hoffman stop opened up a string of five unanswered points that extended the Ramblers' advantage to a comfortable 20-12 margin as they rolled to a 25-17 victory to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
The fifth set was a back and forth battle that ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Maroon and Gold. Evansville trimmed a three-point Loyola lead down to 12-11 to force the Ramblers to burn their first timeout of the set. Following that stoppage in play however, Loyola recorded back-to-back points on an Aces attack error and a kill from Maciagowski for a 14-11 advantage. Evansville refused to go away and went on to rally by notching the final five points, the final two coming on Loyola hitting errors, to capture an improbable 16-14 victory.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Van Grinsven pounded out double-digit kills for the second straight outing, finishing with 13 kills, while Heather Kocken added 10.
• Gresham (10 kills, 15 digs) was one of two Ramblers to register a double-double, joining Delilah Wolf, who contributed 47 assists and 11 digs.
• Alex Nunez pitched in 22 digs for Loyola, which also received 14 digs from Maddy Moser.
• Mildrelis Rodriguez led Evansville with 14 kills and 15 digs.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers wrap up a brief two-match homestand tomorrow night when they host Indiana State at 7 p.m.