Boxscore

CHICAGO (October 12, 2019)
 
In Short
Five players tallied six or more kills, led by Addie Barnes with 10, and Loyola University Chicago (13-6, 6-0 MVC) hit .363 (43-10-91) as a team to pick up a 25-14, 25-17, 25-21 victory over Missouri State (4-16, 1-5 MVC) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. Thanks to today's win, Loyola's sixth in a row, the Ramblers are off to their best start in conference play since opening Horizon League action with a 7-0 mark in 2001.
 
How It Happened
Two kills apiece from Heather Kocken and Sarah Murczek helped Loyola sprint out to an 8-2 advantage in the opening set and it never was threatened in a 25-14 victory. A 7-2 run midway through the set provided the dagger, turning a six-point lead into a 21-10 advantage, as Amanda Cushen smashed her lone kill of the afternoon to punctuate that spurt.
 
The Ramblers gained control of set two when they put up a 7-1 run that turned a one-point Missouri State advantage into a 15-10 Loyola lead, with Murczek delivering a pair of kills in that stretch. MSU sliced the gap to 17-15 but Murczek swung momentum back in the Ramblers' favor with her third kill of the set that opened up a 5-1 spurt and extended the lead to 22-16. A few points later, Delilah Wolf finished things off with her second kill of the afternoon to give Loyola a 25-17 victory.
 
After Missouri State notched four of the first five tallies of the third set, the Ramblers roared back, scoring eight of the next 10 points to seize a 9-6 advantage. However, the Bears would rally and evened the score at 11-11 on a Leah Vokolek service ace. After the teams exchanged points, a kill from Taylor Venuto snapped a 12-12 stalemate and ensuing kills from Kocken and Elle Van Grinsven put Loyola ahead for good on the way to a 25-21 decision.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Eight different Ramblers posted at least one kill on the day, with Barnes pacing the balanced attack with 10, to go along with 12 digs. The freshman outside hitter, who recorded her ninth double-double of the season, also hit .381 (10-2-21) for the contest.
• Both Kocken and Van Grinsven hit .462 with seven kills apiece and Murczek contributed eight kills and 11 digs.
• Amelia Flynn accounted for a team-best eight kills for Missouri State, which dropped its second straight outing.

 
Up Next
Loyola opens up a tough stretch that will see it play three matches in three cities over a four-day period, October 18 when it travels to Illinois State.