Boxscore

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (November 22, 2019)
 
In Short
Addie Barnes and Quinn Spieker each recorded a double-double and Loyola University Chicago (20-10, 13-4 MVC) outplayed host UNI (22-9, 16-1 MVC) for most of the match, but couldn't pull off the upset, falling in four sets, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25 tonight. With the loss, the Ramblers clinch a second-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference regular season race and the No. 2 seed at next week's MVC Championship, which will be held at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
 
How It Happened
Loyola darted out to an early 10-4 lead behind a balanced attack that featured kills from five different players. But the Maroon and Gold's lead would be short-lived as the Panthers roared back and tied the set at 11-11. A kill from Taylor Venuto and consecutive service aces from Katie Mather put the Ramblers back ahead by three (14-11), but UNI would once again battle back. Later in the action, with the set tied at 20, UNI rattled off three unanswered scores to open up a 23-20 edge, but Loyola went down swinging, closing within 24-23 before a Karlie Taylor kill finished off UNI's 25-23 victory.
 
Three straight kills, courtesy of Quinn Spieker, Delilah Wolf and Addie Barnes, snapped a 7-7 tie and put Loyola ahead to stay in set two. UNI got within a point on a couple of occasions, the last at 15-14, but the Ramblers stole the momentum back on kills from Elle Van Grinsven and two from Spieker, as the lead grew to 18-14. Loyola, which hit .341 (15-1-41) in the set, would go on to stretch the advantage to as many as six points (22-16) on the way to a 25-20 decision.
 
The Ramblers rallied from an early 8-2 hole at the outset of the third set, assembling an 11-3 run that featured a pair of kills and a solo block from Van Grinsven, to seize a 13-11 lead. UNI would mount a comeback and later in the set, with the score deadlocked at 17, the Panthers ripped off three straight scores for a 20-17 lead they would not relinquish. Loyola fought until the finish, posting back-to-back points to slice a 24-20 deficit in half, but that was as close as they could get in a 25-22 loss.
 
Another quick start by the Panthers placed Loyola at a four-point disadvantage early (7-3) in the fourth set. With the score at 12-8 in favor of UNI, Barnes crushed a kill that sparked a 5-1 run, which also included kills from Kocken and Venuto, to even the contest at 13-13. UNI countered that punch with three straight tallies to reclaim the lead however, and went on to earn a 25-18 victory that clinched the Panthers the MVC regular season title.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• With 14 kills and a season-high 19 digs, Barnes picked up her 18th double-double of the season, while Spieker, who has played well down the home stretch, added 10 kills and 14 digs. 
• Maddy Moser collected 30 digs, marking the third time this season she has topped the 30-dig mark.
• Loyola finished with 11.0 total blocks
• Karlie Taylor pounded out a match-high 23 kills to lead UNI to its 10^thconsecutive victory.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers conclude the 2019 regular season tomorrow when they visit Drake. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.