CHICAGO (March 28, 2021)
 
In Short
Four players totaled 10 or more kills for Loyola University Chicago (9-8, 8-8 MVC), but visiting Drake (13-6, 11-5 MVC) bounced back from a first-set defeat to secure a 24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22 victory over the Ramblers Sunday afternoon at The Alfie Norville Practice Facility. The Ramblers finish the spring 2021 campaign with a 5-3 ledger at home and now turn their sights toward the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, which takes place later this week.
 
How It Happened
Taylor Venuto delivered a pair of kills during a 5-0 spurt in set one that allowed Loyola to gain a 16-11 lead, but Drake charged back and knotted the score at 18-18 on Emily Plock's kill. After the Ramblers moved back in front by three (21-18), the Bulldogs rallied again, assembling a 6-1 run to grab a 24-22 advantage. A Bulldog attack error touched off a stretch of four unanswered points to finish off a 26-24 victory that was punctuated by a Sarah Murczek service ace.
 
Elle Van Grinsven ripped three kills during a 10-5 surge to commence the second set as Loyola took control early. However, Haley Bush blasted a kill and followed up with an ace to ignite a 7-0 Drake run that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good, at 12-10, and they would go on to earn a 25-21 decision.
 
Two kills apiece from Bush and Plock comprised a run of four straight scores that snapped a 4-4 tie and gave the Bulldogs a 7-4 advantage that grew to as many as seven points in a 25-19 win in the third set.
 
Venuto drilled a pair of kills to open the scoring in the fourth set and later teamed with Kelsey Watson on a block to spark Loyola to a 5-0 lead. Once Drake fought back to draw even at 13-13, the Ramblers put together a 9-4 burst, highlighted by three blocks, to corral a seemingly comfortable 22-17 lead. Drake had second thoughts though, and three kills by Plock proved key in the Bulldogs' set-closing 8-0 run that gave them a 25-22 victory.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Murczek recorded a team-high 14 kills and added 14 digs for Loyola, which also received 12 kills and 12 digs from Emily Banitt.
• Venuto accounted for 11 kills and Watson tacked on 10 kills.
• Plock led all players in the match with 22 kills, with Bush chipping in 17.

 
Up Next
Loyola will be the No. 6 seed at the MVC Championship in Normal, Ill., April 1-3. The Ramblers open up play Thursday at 8 p.m. against No. 3 seed Missouri State.