In Short
After falling in the first set, the Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team made a huge come back, winning three straight sets to defeat the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 3-1. As a team, the Ramblers recorded season-highs in kills (64) and assists (63). Ian Cowen led the Ramblers with a career-high 56 assists, while Cole Schlothauer posted a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs. Devin Joslyn also registered a double-double with a career-high 15 kills and 10 digs, while Jake Maffett added a career-high 15 kills.
 
How It Happened
Purdue Fort Wayne took an early 4-1 lead to start off the match, but Loyola stuck with them. Kyle Piekarski launched a kill from the middle to bring it within 7-5 before the Mastodons furthered their lead, eventually pulling away 13-8. Purdue Fort Wayne took their largest lead, 18-10, but Loyola was able to bring it to 19-14 after a Maffett/Andrew Lyons block. The Mastodons out-hit the Ramblers, .414 percent to .375 percent to win, 25-18.
 
In set two, Loyola took a 2-0 lead after a Maffett kill and a Mastodons attack error. After numerous ties, the Ramblers pulled ahead again, 8-6 after the Mastodons posted three straight errors. The Ramblers never trailed again, taking an 11-8 lead with back-to-back kills from Maffett and Joslyn. The Mastodons trailed 16-10 at one point, as Joslyn posted an ace. Purdue Fort Wayne deeply cut into the lead later on, coming as close as 23-22 before Loyola snagged the 25-23 win.
 
The teams reached 17 ties in the third set, taking it far into extra points. Neither team led by more than two points until Loyola took a 15-12 lead after four straight attack errors from the Mastodons, which included a solo block from Cowen. Loyola hit their best in set three, posting a whopping .500 attack percentage, compared to .229 from the Mastodons. After trailing for quite some time, Purdue Fort Wayne came back to tie 22-22. Both teams exchanged points from then on, moving it all the way to 32-32. The Ramblers won after a block from Cowen, Lyons and Schlothauer and an attack error by Purdue Fort Wayne for a 34-32 win.
 
In what would be the final set, Loyola started off with a 3-0 run to lead 3-1. The teams battled closely once again, but the Ramblers held on to a 7-5 lead as Piekarski posted two kills. After more kills from Schlothauer and Joslyn, Loyola took a 10-7 lead. The Mastodons fought their way back again, tying it five more times before Loyola pulled ahead at the very end to win, 25-21.
 
A Look At The Numbers
- Ian Cowen posted a career-high 56 assists.
- Cole Schlothauer added 16 kills and 10 digs.
- Jake Maffett registered a career-high 15 kills.
- Devin Joslyn tallied a career-high 15 kills and 10 digs.
- Tonight's match had 31 ties and 12 lead changes.
 
Up Next
The Maroon & Gold meet No. 5 Lewis again, this time hosting them at Gentile Arena on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.