Boxscore 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (September 13, 2019)
 
In Short
Taylor Venuto totaled a team-best 17 kills and Loyola University Chicago (3-5) hit an impressive .304 (58-17-135) for the match, but came up on the short end of a 25-21, 20-25, 23-25, 22-25 decision versus Virginia Tech (4-3) this afternoon at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy.
 
How It Happened
Loyola broke free late in the opening set thanks to back-to-back Hokies attack errors and a kill from Heather Kocken to open up a 21-18 lead. After Virginia Tech closed to within a point, at 22-21, the Ramblers closed out a 25-21 victory with three unanswered points, with set point coming courtesy of a Heather Kocken/Elle Van Grinsven turnback of a Virginia Tech attack.
 
A flurry of points from the Hokies at the outset of the set two put the Ramblers in a 6-0 hole, but they were able to right the ship and eventually tied things up at 14-14 on a Virginia Tech hitting miscue. After falling behind again, a kill from Venuto drew Loyola even again, this time at 18-18, but the Hokies reeled off five consecutive scores to take control on the way to a 25-20 decision.
 
Loyola got off to a quick start in set three, getting a pair of service aces from Quinn Spieker as part of an opening 4-0 run. Late in the set, the Ramblers were clinging to a 17-15, but once again, a 5-0 spurt from Virginia Tech changed the complexion of the proceedings. Loyola fought back and was able to get within a point on three occasions but the Hokies held on for a 25-23 win. 
 
Virginia Tech led by as many as six points (20-14) in the fourth set and appeared to be headed to an uncontested victory. However, Loyola battled back, and at one point rattled off four straight tallies, including two kills from Venuto and a block from Venuto and Kocken, to trim the deficit to 22-20. That was as close as the Ramblers would get however, as they dropped a 25-22 contest.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Venuto hit .536 (17-2-28) and posted four blocks in addition to her season-high 17 kills.
• Kocken and Addie Barnes added 13 kills apiece for the Ramblers.
• Virginia Tech, which hit .333 (63-19-132), got a match-high 22 kills from Tessa Wyner. 

 
Up Next
The Ramblers continue play at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic tomorrow with matches against UC Irvine (11 a.m. CT) and Air Force (3:30 p.m. CT).