Boxscore 

CHICAGO (September 6, 2019)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (2-3) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a hard-fought 17-25, 25-27, 25-23, 25-21, 16-14 decision over Loyola University Maryland (1-3) this afternoon at Gentile Arena in the Hampton Inn Rambler Challenge. With the win, the Ramblers snapped a two-match losing skid.
 
How It Happened
Loyola Maryland put the Ramblers in a hole early on, racing out to a 10-3 advantage, and would go on to lead by as many as 11 points as it picked up a 25-17 decision in the first set. 
 
The Greyhounds continued their blistering hitting in set two, posting a .379 (16-5-29) efficiency rate in a 27-25 victory. Just like in the opener, Loyola Maryland created some separation early, getting out to a 5-1 lead before the Ramblers charged back with four straight scores to tie things up at 5-5. Loyola Chicago trailed by four (20-16) late, but put together a 6-2 run to knot the score at 22-22 on a Quinn Spieker service ace. The teams exchanged points, with Loyola Chicago fighting off set point on two occasions until a Molly Jarvis kill and Ramblers error closed out the set.
 
Loyola Chicago stayed alive in the match by pulling out a 25-23 nail-biter in the third set. After shaking off another slow start that produced a five-point deficit, the Ramblers circled the wagons and assembled a 17-8 spurt that put the hosts on top, 19-15. The Greyhounds fought back and tied the score on three occasions, the last coming at 23-23, but a Loyola Maryland service error and a Taylor Venuto kill extended the match and gave Loyola Chicago renewed life.
 
In set four, the Ramblers used a kill and an ace from Spieker as part of a 3-0 spurt that broke a 17-all tie and put the Maroon and Gold ahead to stay on en route to a 25-21 victory that sent the contest to a fifth set.
 
Loyola Chicago saw a five-point lead evaporate in the fifth set thanks to Loyola Maryland's 8-2 burst that gave the Greyhounds a short-lived 11-10 edge. The Ramblers would go on to complete a stirring come-from-behind victory, their first five-set win in three tries this season, with consecutive blocks from Heather Kocken and Venuto, for a 16-14 win.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Spieker smacked a team-high 15 kills and added 11 digs for Loyola, which picked up its first home win of the year.
• Venuto and Kocken contributed 12 kills apiece for the Ramblers.
• Ann Ernst produced a match-high 19 kills to pace Loyola Maryland.

 
Up Next
Loyola continues play at the Hampton Inn Rambler Challenge tonight at 7 p.m. when it hosts Montana State.