COLUMBUS, Oho (February 21, 2021)
 
In Short
Host Ohio State (4-6, 3-3 MIVA) hit .301 as a team to take down a short-handed Loyola University Chicago (8-2, 4-2 MIVA) squad, 25-17, 25-22, 27-25, this afternoon at the Covelli Center. The 11^th-ranked Ramblers, who dropped their second straight outing after winning their first eight matches of 2021, played without the services of 2020 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Newcomer of the Year Cole Schlothauer.
 
How It Happened
Ohio State led from start to finish to pick up a 25-17 win in the opener. A kill from Garrett Zolg brought the Ramblers within a point, at 8-7, but three straight Loyola errors pushed the Buckeyes' lead to 11-7, and from there, the Maroon and Gold was unable to get closer than three points. 
 
Kills from Jimmy Meinhart, Colton Brooks and Henry Payne helped Loyola score four of the first five points of set two. Shortly after, a kill from Payne put the Ramblers ahead, 6-3, but five unanswered tallies gave Ohio State an 8-6 lead. Loyola got with a point on nine occasions from that point forward, using a Luke Denton kill and an Andrew Lyons service ace to slice a 23-20 deficit to 23-22, only to see the Buckeyes come out of a timeout to notch the final two points for a 25-22 decision.
 
Four consecutive points midway through the third set broke an 11-11 tie and gave Loyola a 15-11 advantage that would grow to as many as five points, however, Ohio State roared back from a 20-15 deficit to knot the score at 22-22. After the teams traded points for a brief period, a kill from Denton brought the Ramblers even at 25-25, but a Martin Lallemand kill and a Loyola attack error finished off the Buckeyes' late rally for a 27-25 win to earn the sweep.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Denton paced the Loyola attack with a team-high 12 kills and he also contributed five digs and three blocks.
• The Ramblers, who entered the weekend ranked third in the nation in hitting percentage, hit just .188 (30-15-80) this afternoon.
• Lallemand had 13 kills and seven digs to lead Ohio State.

 
Up Next
Loyola hosts Purdue Fort Wayne February 25 at 7 p.m. CT.