Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (October 29, 2018)
 
In Short
Quinn Spieker registered her ninth double-double of the season and Elle Van Grinsven pitched in 11 kills to lead Loyola University Chicago (15-10, 7-6 MVC) to a 25-23, 25-21, 25-19 victory over Southern Illinois (4-21, 0-12 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. The win is the Ramblers' fourth in their last five contests overall, third in a row at home and keeps them in sole possession of fifth place in the Missouri Valley Conference race.
 
How It Happened
A block from Patience Brown put the upstart Salukis ahead 20-16 in set one, making things looks bleak for the host Ramblers. Loyola proved its mettle and charged back, recording five straight points and eight of the next nine, to seize the lead and pick up a stirring 25-23 victory. Heather Kocken and Van Grinsven came up big in that set-closing surge, as they tallied two kills apiece to fuel the comeback.
 
Set two was a see-saw battle with neither team leading by more than two until the final few points of the Ramblers' 25-21 decision. A Gabi Maciagowski kill broke a 20-20 tie and Van Grinsven followed with one of her own to allow Loyola to open up a two-point advantage. Spieker would finish off Southern Illinois with consecutive kills to close out the Loyola win, in which it hit an impressive .432 (21-5-37). 
 
Southern Illinois faltered down the stretch in a third set that was a close battle until the end. Spieker's final kill of the night kicked off a 6-1, set-closing run, aided by four Saluki miscues, that provided Loyola with a 25-19 victory.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Spieker finished with 12 kills and 14 digs and added a season-high four service aces in an impressive all-around performance.
• Kocken and Maciagowski pitched in eight kills and three blocks apiece, while Alex Nunez contributed 14 digs, matching Spieker's team-high output. Nunez inched closer to the 1,000-career-dig mark and now needs 121 to reach the milestone.
• Loyola has tripled its win total from 2017 and notched its most victories in a season since 2015 when it won 20 contests.
• Lindsey Paulsen paced Southern Illinois with a team-high seven kills and seven blocks.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers continue their four-match homestand Friday night (Nov. 2) when they welcome Valparaiso to Gentile Arena. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.