Box Score

In Short…
Jeff Jendryk and Collin Mahan both tallied double-digit kills as No. 6 Loyola University Chicago (20-5, 10-2 MIVA) defeated McKendree (11-12, 6-6 MIVA) by a final score of 32-30, 25-21, 24-26, 25-11 this evening inside the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon, Ill.
 
How It Happened
Loyola dug itself into an early hole in set one, as McKendree raced out to a commanding 6-0 lead.  A Paul Narup kill trimmed the Bearcat lead to 12-8.  Following a Nolan Rueter spike that stretched the margin to 20-12, Ricky Gevis hammered home to spark a scorching 10-1 run that saw the Ramblers vault in front, 22-21.  The two teams would trade shots before a block by Narup and Collin Mahan gave the Ramblers a 31-30 edge.  Narup would come up on the right end of another block seconds later, teaming up with Gevis to seal an improbable 32-30 comeback victory in set one.
 
With the two teams knotted up at 8-8 in the second set, a Mahan kill ignited a 3-0 Rambler run that pushed Loyola out to an 11-8 advantage.  Ricky Gevis upped the margin to 16-12 with a service ace shortly after.  The hosts would get no closer than two for the remainder of the frame, with a Bearcat service error closing out a 25-21 triumph that gave Loyola out to a two-set lead heading into the intermission.
 
Loyola looked to assume control of the third set quickly.  Back-to-back McKendree service errors helped stake the Ramblers to a 10-4 lead and prompted a Bearcat timeout.  A block by Ethan Carroll and Lucas Galifos pulled McKendree to within 16-13 and forced Loyola to burn a timeout of its own.  A Gevis kill that was followed by a Bearcat mishit provided Loyola with a bit of breathing room, 20-17, but McKendree refused to go away, as it roared back to take a 23-22 lead on a Galifos hammer.  Carroll and Brendan Schmidt joined forces on a denial that gave the Bearcats a 26-24 victory in set three to keep the match alive.
 
After falling into an early 3-0 hole in set four, another Narup kill laid the foundation for a backbreaking 9-0 spurt that put Loyola firmly in control, 9-3.  Three straight kills from Jeff Jendryk gave Loyola match point at 24-11.  Mahan closed the show, turning away Carroll with a solo block to seal a 25-11 win.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Jendryk tallied a team-high 12 kills to go along with five blocks. 
- Mahan added 11 kills, recorded seven digs and also registered five blocks of his own.
- Garrett Zolg handed out a match-high 43 assists.
- Rueter paced the McKendree attack with a match-high 15 kills.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens the final weekend of regular-season play on Thursday when it travels to Lindenwood.  First serve is slated for 7 p.m.