In Short
Devin Joslyn crushed a team-high 14 kills, but Loyola University Chicago (3-8, 0-1 MIVA) dropped a hard-fought, 25-27, 23-25, 26-28 battle with tenth-ranked Purdue Fort Wayne (6-2, 1-0 MIVA) tonight at Gentile Arena in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opener for both teams.
 
How It Happened
Loyola stretched its lead to 18-13 late in the first set on a kill from Joslyn, but Purdue Fort Wayne stormed back, scoring eight of the next nine points in the opening set to stake hold to a 21-19 advantage. The Ramblers were able to reclaim the lead, scoring three consecutive tallies on Mastodons errors, for a 24-23 edge, but Purdue Fort Wayne closed out the set on a 4-1 run to earn a 27-25 decision.
 
A hot-hitting Purdue Fort Wayne squad posted a .407 (14-3-27) attack percentage in set two, but Loyola held tough. Trailing 22-19, the Ramblers, who hit .333 (14-5-27) in the set themselves, drew within a point on another kill from Josyln and a Kyle Piekarski/Ian Cowen block, but the Mastodons had an answer each time the hosts closed within a point and Purdue Fort Wayne held on for the 25-23 victory.
 
Loyola out-hit Purdue Fort Wayne in set three (.250 to .243), but dropped a heartbreaking 28-26 contest. Two Josyln kills were sandwiched around a Mastodons hitting error that allowed the Ramblers to wipe away a three-point deficit and even the score at 24-24. Moments later, with the score deadlocked at 26-26, Purdue Fort Wayne turned to its workhorse, senior outside hitter Pelegrin Vargas, who recorded back-to-back kills to close out a 28-26 win for the Dons.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Joslyn's 14 kills established a new career high for the junior outside hitter, surpassing the 13 he drilled just two weeks ago versus Urbana.
• Cole Schlothauer contributed 12 kills, while Piekarski added eight kills and three blocks for the Ramblers.
• Vargas led all players with a match-best 19 kills for Purdue Fort Wayne.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers make their first road trip in MIVA play next weekend when they travel to Quincy (Feb. 13) and Lindenwood (Feb. 15).