TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (October 29, 2021)
 
In Short
Don't call it a comeback. Actually, call it a comeback. Visiting Loyola University Chicago (17-6, 10-1 MVC) staged late rallies in each set to slip past Indiana State (11-9, 3-7 MVC), 26-24, 27-25, 27-25 tonight at ISU Arena for its fourth straight victory. The Ramblers collected their 10^thwin in Missouri Valley Conference play with tonight's win, marking just the second time since 2005, but second time in three years, they have posted double-digit league victories.
 
How It Happened
Loyola scored five of the first six points of the opening set to grab an early lead, but Indiana State assembled a 12-4 run to surge ahead by four points (13-9). Two kills apiece from Taylor Venuto and Emily Banitt drew the Ramblers even at 13-13 and after the teams exchanged points for a short time, three straight Sycamores tallies moved the hosts back on top. The Ramblers staged another miraculous rally on the road, overcoming a 24-20 deficit to tally the final six scores, with four players recording kills in that decisive stretch, for a wild, 26-24 victory.
 
Set two was no less exciting, with the Ramblers pulling out a 27-25 victory. With her team in an 18-15 hole, Venuto hammered home two of her six kills in the set during a 4-1 spurt that knotted the proceedings at 19-19. The teams battled back and forth until consecutive kills from Sarah Murczek and Addie Barnes closed out the nail-biter of a win. The Ramblers hit a sizzling .357 (20-5-42) in the set, with Venuto smacking a half dozen kills.
 
Indiana State got out to an early four-point lead in set three then expanded its advantage to 14-7. Once the Ramblers inched their way within three, at 18-15, the Sycamores rattled off six of the next eight tallies to serve set point leading 24-17. The resilient bunch of Ramblers dug deep and found one more miracle comeback in their bag of Halloween tricks. Barnes opened Loyola's finishing flurry with a kill and that touched off a string of seven unanswered points, highlighted by two blocks and kill from Kelsey Watson, that tied things up at 24-24. Following a Sycamore tally, Watson delivered another critical point to tie the set at 25 and back-to-back kills from Anna Feldkamp and Murczek finished off Indiana State, 27-25, for an improbable decision.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• The hallmark of this year's Loyola squad has been its depth and balance and tonight showcased that trait yet again, with five players blasting seven or more kills.
• Barnes put up 11 kills, 14 digs, three blocks and an ace as she notched double-digit kills for the seventh consecutive outing.
• Banitt matched Barnes' output with 11 kills, while Venuto rounded out Loyola's cast of double-digit kill producers with 10 stops, while hitting at a highly effective .500 (10-1-18) clip.
• Watson delivered four of her nine kills during the third set and the sophomore middle blocker also pitched in four blocks on the night, while Murczek came off the bench to provide seven kills and nine digs.
• Setter Lane Jenkins accounted for 26 assists and a team-best 19 digs for her ninth double-double of the year, while Grace Hinchman chipped in 17 digs.
• Loyola is now 15-0 this season when it wins the opening set.

 
Up Next
Loyola finishes up its weekend trip to Indiana by visiting Evansville tomorrow afternoon. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.