Boxscore (PDF)
MUNCIE, Ind. (February 17, 2018)
In Short
Despite a team-high 17 kills from
Collin Mahan, the No. 6 Loyola University Chicago (10-3, 3-1 MIVA) men's volleyball team suffered a 32-34, 25-20, 23-25, 21-25 defeat at the hands of Ball State (7-7, 2-2 MIVA) tonight at Worthen Arena. The loss snaps Loyola's eight-match winning streak and drops the Maroon and Gold to 8-18 all-time against Ball State in Muncie.
How It Happened
Loyola seemed in control when Mahan drilled a kill to give the Ramblers a 22-17 lead in the opening set. However, Ball State charged back and tied the set at 24 thanks to a 7-2 run that was capped by a Matt Walsh service ace. The teams would battle back and forth until consecutive kills from Parker Swartz and Matt Szews closed out the Cardinals' improbable comeback for a 34-32 win.
The Ramblers did not let the disappointment of the opening set defeat deter them in set two, however, as they bounced back to record a 25-20 victory and even the match at a set apiece. With the score deadlocked at 10, Loyola grabbed the lead for good on a Ball State service error and added another point when
Jeff Jendryk and Mahan teamed up for a block to kick off a 7-2 run that gave the Ramblers control of the set.
Ball State surged ahead late in the third set on a Szews ace, which preceded a Mitch Weiler kill and a Wash/Jake Romano block that gave the Cardinals a 20-17 lead they never relinquished. Loyola clawed its way back into the set and got within a point on five occasions, the last coming when a BSU service error cut the gap to 24-23, but Szews closed out a 25-23 Cardinals victory with a kill to end the Ramblers' hopes of a comeback.
Loyola led by as many as four points in the fourth set, and a kill from
Ricky Gevis extended the Ramblers' lead to 15-11. The Ramblers were unable to make that lead stand up however, as the Cardinals charged right back and evened the set at 16 on a Lemuel Turner kill. After the teams traded points, Ball State rattled off three unanswered tallies to claim a 20-17 lead and held off Loyola for a 25-20 decision that snapped the Ramblers' eight-match winning streak.
A Look At The Numbers
- Mahan reached double figures in kills for the 14th consecutive match dating back to last season, finishing with a match-best 17 stops, while hitting at a .433 (17-4-30) efficiency rate.
- Gevis added 13 kills and four blocks, while Will Tischler pitched in 12 kills for Loyola.
- Setter Garrett Zolg produced 12 digs and handed out 45 assists for his second double-double in as many matches this weekend.
- Szews led Ball State with 16 kills
Up Next
Loyola returns home on February 23 when it opens a five-match homestand with a 7 p.m. contest against MIVA rival McKendree.
