CHICAGO (October 8, 2021)
 
In Short
A balanced attack highlighted by 10 kills apiece from juniors Addie Barnes and Taylor Venuto allowed Loyola University Chicago (13-5, 6-0 MVC) to close out a perfect four-match homestand with a convincing 25-22, 25-18, 25-18 victory over Valparaiso (13-4, 4-2 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. The win was the Ramblers' first over a Top 50 RPI team this season and at 6-0, the Ramblers have equaled their best start in Missouri Valley Conference play, which was set in 2019.
 
How It Happened
Midway through the first set, a Venuto service ace, followed by a kill from Barnes, broke a 13-13 tie to give Loyola the lead for good in a 25-22 victory. Later, after the Beacons closed within a point, Anna Feldkamp drilled back-to-back kills and Grace Hinchman served up an ace to boost the Ramblers' advantage to 20-16. Venuto was sensational, whacking five kills in the opening frame.
 
Consecutive Brittany Anderson service aces moved Valparaiso ahead in set two, 12-10, and forced Loyola to burn its first timeout. That break halted the Beacons' momentum and following a Valpo attack error, Loyola's next three points came via blocks, the final two coming courtesy of Venuto and Karlie McNabb.  Those blocks were part of a larger 7-0 Ramblers run that turned the two-point deficit into a commanding 17-12 lead on their way to a 25-18 decision. 
 
Valpo had no answer for Loyola's efficient attack that hit .353 (16-4-34) in a 25-18 victory in set three. The Ramblers weathered a shaky start that saw the Beacons jump out to a 4-1 edge, but the hosts countered by scoring five of the next six tallies to claim a 6-5 advantage. With the score knotted up at 8-8, Kelsey Watson smacked a kill that was followed by another Venuto/McNabb block that put Loyola ahead to stay, at 12-10. After Loyola built the lead to five points (20-15), Valpo trimmed the deficit to 21-18, but two more kills from Venuto keyed a set-closing string of four unanswered points to close out the sweep.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Venuto hit 364 (10-2-22) on the night and added six blocks and four digs to go with her 10 kills.
• Barnes was her usual consistent self, compiling 10 kills and eight digs and Emily Banitt pitched in nine kills, while McNabb went for eight kills, six digs, and three blocks.
• Loyola improved to 12-0 this season when it wins the first set.
• With a victory over Illinois State next Friday, Loyola would equal its best start in conference play, regardless of league affiliation, since capturing its first seven Horizon League contests in 2001.
• The Ramblers improved to 7-0 at home this season and their overall six-match winning streak is their best since reeling off a half dozen consecutive victories October 25 through November 15, 2019.
• Peyton McCarthy recorded 11 kills to lead Valpo.

 
Up Next
For the first time in three weeks, Loyola will get back on the road for matches versus in-state rivals Illinois State (Oct. 15) and Bradley (Oct. 16).