CHICAGO (October 4, 2021)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (12-5, 5-0 MVC) hit .358 (32-8-67) over the final two sets to earn a 25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-17 victory over Northern Iowa (6-11, 1-3 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who got 15 kills from Addie Barnes and 12 kills from Emily Banitt, extended their winning streak to five matches with the victory.
 
How It Happened
A UNI hitting error and a Karlie McNabb service ace broke a 9-9 stalemate in the first set and gave the Ramblers the lead for good on their way to a 25-19 decision. The Panthers crept within 17-16, but Taylor Venuto tallied a kill and a pair of blocks during a 4-0 spurt that provided the Ramblers with some breathing room and pushed their edge to 21-16.
 
Kills from Venuto and Barnes and another McNabb ace put Loyola on top, 14-11, in the second set, but the hosts were able to make that lead hold up in a 25-16 setback. UNI roared back, tying the score at 14-14 and a few points later, with the proceedings knotted up at 16-16, the Panthers stuffed four Loyola attacks during a decisive string of nine unanswered points to close out the set.
 
Loyola bounced back from the disappointing finish to the second set by jumping all over UNI at the start of set three, building a 17-7 advantage before fending off a rally for a 25-22 victory. Venuto provided the spark early, turning back three Panther attacks during a run of four straight points to begin the set. Northern Iowa was able to shrink Loyola's advantage to two points on three occasions, the final time coming at 24-22, but Barnes' third kill of the set punctuated the Ramblers' win.
 
Behind another quick start, Loyola rolled to a 25-17 victory in the fourth set, hitting a blistering .429 (18-3-35). Banitt and Barnes recorded two kills apiece, and Venuto notched a kill and an ace to provide all of the offense for Loyola in a 6-1 set-opening run that put the Panthers on their heels, and they were unable to recover from that initial blow. 
 
A Look at the Numbers

• After dropping the first 22 matches in the all-time series versus UNI, Loyola has now won the last three meetings with the Panthers.
• Loyola improved to 6-0 at Gentile Arena this season with tonight's win. It was also the Ramblers' first-ever victory over Northern Iowa in Rogers Park.
• Barnes picked up another double-double, her fifth of the season, going for 15 kills and 14 digs, with Banitt hitting .357 (12-2-28), as she drilled double-digit kills for the fourth time in the last five matches.
• Venuto had another solid night, compiling eight kills, nine blocks and an ace, and McNabb tossed in eight kills, nine digs and a pair of aces.
• Loyola is now 11-0 this season when it wins the opening set.

 
Up Next
Loyola concludes its four-match homestand Friday (Oct. 8) when it squares off against Valparaiso. First serve is set for 6 p.m.