Boxscore (PDF)
CHICAGO (September 14, 2018)
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (8-2) extended its winning streak to eight matches thanks to an incredibly efficient offense that hit at a .417 (52-9-103) clip on its way to a 25-14, 25-20, 25-13 victory over crosstown rival DePaul (2-7) tonight in a Chicago Cup contest at Gentile Arena.
How It Happened
With its middles and right sides accounting for the bulk of the damage in the opening set, Loyola stormed out to an 8-3 lead and never looked back on the way to a 25-14 decision. The Ramblers, who hit at an impressive .531 (19-2-32) rate, got three kills from
Heather Kocken in a 4-0 run that turned a three-point lead into a comfortable 17-10 advantage as they rolled to victory.
Kocken was a catalyst at the beginning of the second set, pounding out a pair of kills and teaming up with
Morgan Gresham on a block as Loyola darted out to a 3-0 advantage. That lead would expand to 13-6 before the Blue Demons were able to close within four, at 19-15, but consecutive
Quinn Spieker kills ignited a 4-0 spurt that bumped the advantage to 23-15. DePaul staged one final rally, getting within 24-20, but a kill from Gresham capped a 25-20 win.
Another fast start propelled the Ramblers in set three as Spieker and
Gabi Maciagowski tallied two kills apiece in a 7-3 set-opening run. Loyola hit a blistering .571 (16-0-28) as it coasted to a convincing 25-13 decision to improve to a perfect 4-0 at Gentile Arena this season.
A Look At The Numbers
- Elle Van Grinsven crushed a season-high 16 kills, one short of her career best, and added three digs, three blocks and a pair of aces, while hitting .519 (16-2-27).
- Kocken and Maciagowski added 11 kills apiece, with Kocken posting a .667 (11-1-15) hitting percentage to go with a team-high six blocks. Meanwhile, Maciagowski had her most efficient match of the young season, hitting .474 (11-2-19).
- Lauren Caprini produced a team-high 14 digs and added an ace.
- Claire Anderson led DePaul with eight kills.
Up Next
Loyola, which is seeking it third straight tournament championship, hosts UIC at noon and Northwestern at 7 p.m. tomorrow to conclude play at the Chicago Cup.
