CHICAGO (February 13, 2021)
In Short
Behind a team-high 16 kills from
Cole Schlothauer, 13
th-ranked Loyola University Chicago (8-0, 4-0 MIVA stayed perfect on the season and collected its ninth straight win dating back to last spring, taking down Lindenwood, 25-19, 18-25, 25-18, 25-20 tonight at The Alfie Norville Practice Facility.
How It Happened
Loyola grabbed control of the first set when it scored five straight points, the first two on kills by
Luke Denton, who later in that run paired with
Andrew Lyons on a block, to give it a 7-4 lead it would not yield. Following a Loyola attack error,
Colton Brooks sandwiched kills around a Denton service ace to extend the advantage to 10-5 and Lindenwood would never get within four points the remainder of the way as the Ramblers claimed a 25-19 victory.
Both teams stayed evenly matched in set two until three unanswered scores gave the Lions the lead for good, at 18-15. Loyola fought back and closed within a point twice, including at 19-18 on a
Colton Brooks kill, but the visitors finished off the set with six straight points to even the match at a set apiece.
The Ramblers took out their frustrations on the Lions in the third set, riding three kills and two block assists from Denton to a 14-4 cushion on their way to an easy 25-18 decision.
A 6-2 spurt in set four broke a stalemate and provided Loyola with an 11-7 edge, only to see the Lions claw back and even the set at 16-16. After the clubs exchanged points twice, a Lindenwood service error began a 6-1 run that included three consecutive points, two on kills from Schlothauer, that moved Loyola on top, 24-19.
A Look at the Numbers
- Schlothauer paved the way to victory with 16 kills and seven digs, while Denton wound up with 13 kills, seven digs, four blocks and two service aces.
- Colton Brooks had a big night, crushing a season-high 12 kills and hitting .391 (12-3-23), to go with his five digs and three aces.
- As a team, Loyola hit .295 (57-21-122) and also received seven kills from Jimmy Meinhart and six from Lyons.
- AJ Lewis' 17 kills led Lindenwood.
- Loyola is 4-0 in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) action for the first time since 2019.
Up Next
Loyola is back on the road next weekend when it travels to Columbus, Ohio for a pair of matches against No. 14 Ohio State on February 20 and 21.