Box Score CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (March 21, 2021)
 
In Short
Emily Holterhaus recorded 21 kills to lead host Northern Iowa (7-10, 7-6 MVC) to a 25-13, 23-25, 25-13, 21-25, 15-6 victory over Loyola University Chicago (7-7, 6-7 MVC) this afternoon at the McLeod Center. The loss extends the Ramblers' winless streak to four matches.
 
How It Happened
Northern Iowa darted out to a 14-7 lead in the first set, but Loyola responded with five consecutive tallies that featured a kill and a pair of aces from Jenna Appel, to shrink the gap to 14-12. Emily Holterhaus strapped the Panthers onto her back at that point and recorded seven kills in an 11-1 run to close out the set for a 25-13 UNI win.
 
Loyola turned the tables in set two, as it was the team that charged out to a big lead this time, surging ahead, 13-7, only to have the Panthers roar back and knot the score at 22-22. After the teams traded points, Sarah Murczek drilled a kill and Kat Warpinski served up an ace to close out Loyola's 25-23 victory.
 
The Ramblers were deadlocked at 9-9 in the third set until Holterhaus had two kills during a decisive 6-0 Panthers run that put UNI ahead for good on its way to a 25-13 decision.
 
The Ramblers showed their resilience in set four, battling back from a 20-16 deficit to pick up a 25-21 victory. An Elle Van Grinsven touched off Loyola's set-closing 9-1 burst that featured four UNI hitting errors.
 
Northern Iowa took control of the fifth set with a kill from Kaylissa Arndorfer that ignited a 9-2 run that proved to be too much of a hole for Loyola to climb out of, and the Panthers coasted to a 15-6 win to take the match.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Emily Holterhaus mashed a match-high 21 kills to lead Northern Iowa, which hit .268 (66-25-153) as a team. 
• Murczek led all Ramblers with nine kills and Emily Banitt pitched in eight kills and 12 digs.
• Loyola is now 4-2 this season in matches that go the full five sets.
• Van Grinsven and Taylor Venuto totaled seven kills each for the Ramblers.

 
Up Next
Loyola and Northern Iowa conclude the two-match series tomorrow with a 5 p.m. first serve.