In Short
Four players totaled 10 or more kills as Loyola University Chicago (2-0) rallied from five points down in the fifth set to win a heart-pounding 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 17-15 decision versus Butler (0-2) tonight at The Alfie Norville Practice Facility to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Ramblers have won back-to-back contests to start a season for the first time since 2012.
 
How It Happened
Elle Van Grinsven and Sarah Murczek delivered kills as part of a 4-0 spurt that broke a tie and gave Loyola an 18-14 lead in the opening set. The Ramblers lead sat at 22-19 after a Butler attack error, but an ensuing Loyola error sparked a 6-0 set-closing run that gave the Bulldogs a 25-22 victory and early lead in the match.
 
Taylor Venuto came up big in set two, tallying six kills to help Loyola to a 25-22 win. The sophomore middle hitter crushed a pair of kills in a 5-1 burst that snapped a 14-14 stalemate and put the Ramblers ahead, 20-15, and they would wind up holding off a late Butler rally to even the match at a set apiece. 
 
Loyola came out of the gates hot in the third set, racing out to a 7-2 lead before Butler came back to tie it up at 11-11. The Ramblers were able to build their lead back up to three points on a few occasions, the last coming at 20-17, but the Bulldogs fought back and surged ahead on a pair of occasions. Butler led 23-22, but two Butler attack errors and a kill from Murczek closed out a 25-23 Loyola victory.
 
Butler appeared headed to an easy win in the fourth set, as it jumped out to a 14-5 lead. However, a young Loyola unit showed its resilience, clawing its way back to make a game of it. With her team trailing, 21-11, Van Grinsven walloped a kill to ignite a 7-1 run that the senior middle blocker punctuated with another stop, to bring the Ramblers within 22-18. However, the Bulldogs were able to hold off Loyola for a 25-20 decision to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
The Ramblers showed their resolve one more time in the fifth set, storming back from a 10-5 deficit to collect a wild 17-15 victory. Loyola chipped away and found itself facing match point, trailing 14-11, until Murczek and Van Grinsven posted back-to-back kills and Butler followed with a hitting error to knot the score at 14-14. Following a Rambler service error that moved the Bulldogs back in front, Murczek smashed her final kill of the evening, then followed with an ace before a Butler attack error touched off an emotional celebration as Loyola pulled out a heart-stopping, 17-15 win.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Murczek led the way, picking up her second double-double in as many matches with 18 kills and a career-best 26 digs, while Emily Banitt recorded 12 kills and 21 digs.
• Loyola's middles also had big nights with Venuto racking up 13 kills and nine blocks and Van Grinsven pitching in 11 kills and five blocks.
• Grace Hinchman accounted for 24 digs and Jenna Appel doled out 47 assists and dug 10 balls.
• Brittany Robinson led Butler with 20 kills and 14 digs.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers jump right back into Missouri Valley Conference action Monday when they visit Valparaiso at 3 p.m. CT.