Boxscore (PDF) 

In Short…
Three Ramblers reached double figures in kills as No. 9 Ohio State (18-4, 9-2 MIVA) dealt No. 6 Loyola University Chicago (19-5, 9-2 MIVA) a 25-20, 25-16, 39-41, 25-19 defeat this evening at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
 
How It Happened
Ohio State wasted no time in taking control in the first set as it raced out to a 6-1 lead following a Nicolas Szerszen service ace.  Loyola used a 3-0 spurt midway through the set that was punctuated by a block from Ricky Gevis and Paul Narup to pull back to within 19-15, but the Ramblers would get no closer for the remainder of the set as Ohio State picked up a 25-20 victory.
 
Loyola shook off a slow start to the second set to pull even at 9-9 after a solo block by Jeff Jendryk.  Ohio State responded with four unanswered points to assume control, 13-9, and force a Rambler timeout.  A Buckeye service error saw Loyola close to within three, 16-13, before the hosts rattled off seven of the set's final eight points en route to earn a 25-16 win.
 
With Ohio State holding on to a 14-12 lead in the third set, Collin Mahan sparked a 6-1 Rambler run that sent Loyola in front, 18-15, and prompted an Ohio State timeout.  The Buckeyes would roar back, taking a 24-23 lead following a Rambler attack error to set up match point.  What followed was a marathon finish to the frame, with both teams fighting off multiple deciding points.  Consecutive kills from Mahan and Gevis turned in a 39-38 deficit into a 40-39 advantage before an Ohio State mishit clinched a thrilling 41-39 triumph for the Ramblers that forced a fourth set.
 
Ryan Jamison hammered a kill to edge Loyola out to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set as the Ramblers looked to carry over momentum.  Ohio State responded with three straight points to take a 4-3 lead.  The two teams would trade points for the middle stages of the frame before back-to-back Buckeye scores gave Ohio State a 14-11 advantage.  Gevis, Narup and Jamison teamed up a triple block that helped Loyola trim its deficit to 18-16 but that would prove to be as close as the Ramblers could get, as Ohio State claimed a 25-19 win.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Gevis paced the Rambler attack on the night with 13 kills.
- Mahan (12) and Jendryk (11) also reached double figures in kills.
- Garrett Zolg dished out 39 assists and recorded 11 digs.
- Maxime Hervoir ripped a game-high 24 kills to lead Ohio State.
 
Up Next
Loyola looks to bounce back on Saturday when it visits McKendree.  First serve is set for 7 p.m.