NORMAL, Ill.  (November 27, 2021)
 
In Short
Second-seeded Illinois State (19-13) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to deal No. 1 seed Loyola University Chicago (22-10) a 17-25, 28-30, 25-10, 26-24, 15-13 loss today in the title match of the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Volleyball Championship to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The loss prevents the Ramblers from earning their first postseason berth since 2005.
 
How It Happened
Behind an attack that hit .333 (16-3-39), Loyola picked up a 25-17 victory in set one, with right side Emily Banitt blasting five kills in the opener to provide a spark for the Ramblers. Taylor Venuto's kill that was followed by a Redbird attack error put the Maroon and Gold ahead to stay, at 9-7 Leading 15-13, Loyola closed out the set with a 10-4 run, getting three kills from Banitt and two from Karlie McNabb to take the lead in the match.
 
Kills from Banitt and Venuto bookended a Sarah Murczek service ace to provide Loyola with a 14-11 lead in the second set. Illinois State washed away the deficit however, and took a 21-19 lead before kills from Anna Feldkamp and Venuto drew the Ramblers even. From there, the teams exchanged points until a kill from Murczek and a Venuto/Jenna Appel block punctuated Loyola's 30-28 decision.
 
Illinois State was white-hot in set three and scored 11 of the first 14 points to take control on the way to a 25-10 win. The Redbirds hit a whopping .615 (17-1-25) and that victory breathed life into the defending MVC Tournament champions.
 
The Redbirds used a 5-0 spurt early in set four to seize an 11-6 edge, but Loyola worked its way back to even (13-13), with Appel and Grace Hinchman firing service aces during that 7-2 burst that tied the proceedings. From that point on, neither team led by more than two points and a kill from Aliyah Moore and a Loyola hitting error capped ISU's 26-24 victory that sent the match to a decisive fifth set.
 
Two kills each from Venuto and McNabb helped Loyola jump out to an 8-5 lead in the fifth set, but a 7-2 Illinois State spurt put the hosts ahead for good, at 12-10, with four errors spelling doom for the Ramblers during that critical stretch. Trailing 14-12, Loyola got a kill from Addie Barnes to climb within a point, only to have Kaitlyn Prondzinski rip a kill to finish off the Redbirds' come-from-behind win, 15-13.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Banitt recorded a team-high 19 kills and hit .350 (19-5-40), to lead three Ramblers who tallied double-digit kills.
• McNabb contributed 11 kills and Barnes delivered 10 kills and 12 digs, while Venuto pitched in nine kills and five blocks.
• Hinchman registered 26 digs and Kelsey Watson turned back six Redbird attacks to lead Loyola's defensive effort.
• The loss was Loyola's only one this season when winning the first set.
• Prondzinski led all players with 20 kills and was named Most Valuable Player of the MVC Championship.
• Barnes and Hinchman represented the Ramblers' on the MVC Championship All-Tournament Team, which also featured Alondra Vazquez (Evansville), Hannah Thompson (Bradley), Mallory Keller (Indiana State), Peyton McCarthy (Valparaiso), Tamara Otene (Illinois State) and Nicole Lund (Illinois State).

 
Up Next
Loyola finishes the year with a 22-10 overall record, its most wins since posting 22 victories in 2004. MVC Coach of the Year Amanda Berkley will welcome back all but one player from this year's team when the Ramblers compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2022.