NOTRE DAME, Ind. (August 28, 2021)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (1-1) put up a valiant effort but came up on the short end of a 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19 decision versus No. 16 Western Kentucky (3-0) this afternoon at Purcell Pavilion on the second day of play at the Golden Dome Invitational. The Hilltoppers claimed the tournament title with the win, while the Ramblers have a chance to finish second if they can take down 25^th-ranked Notre Dame later tonight.
 
How It Happened
Neither team led by more than two points until midway through the opening set when Lauren Matthews helped key a 6-0 Western Kentucky run with a pair of kills as the Big Red opened up a 21-15 lead they would maintain in a 25-19 victory.
 
Loyola hit .394 (17-4-33) in set two, but Western Kentucky was hard to cool off as it connected at a robust .516 (17-1-31) clip in a closely contested 25-22 battle. The Ramblers trailed by as many as three points early before battling back to even the proceedings at 15-15. After the teams exchanged points, consecutive kills from Addie Barnes and Emily Banitt put Loyola back ahead, at 18-16, but Western Kentucky would tie things up again and eventually close the set with three straight scores for a 25-22 win.
 
Barnes and Sarah Murczek sparked the Ramblers to a 25-23 win in set three to keep the match alive as Loyola's five-point lead late in the set nearly evaporated. Two kills from apiece Barnes and Murczek were part of a set-opening 9-4 spurt that put Loyola in control early. Murczek's fourth and final kill of set bumped the Maroon and Gold's advantage to 22-17, but a 6-2 Hilltopper run sliced the Ramblers' lead to a tenuous 24-23 margin. WKU's momentum stalled however, and Logan Kael's service error on set point provided the Ramblers with the win.
 
Western Kentucky assumed control from the outset of the fourth set, tallying the first three scores and later extending its lead to as many as seven points. Trailing 21-14, Loyola mounted one last rally thanks to Taylor Venuto, who provided a pair of kills and teamed up on a pair of blocks in a 5-1 burst that was capped by a service ace from Murczek, to trim the gap to 22-19. That was as close as the Ramblers would get though, and Matthews ripped a pair of kills and paired up on a block as the Hilltoppers reeled off the final three points of the set to secure a 25-19 decision.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Western Kentucky hit .412 (60-11-119) and got 21 kills from Matthews to stay perfect on the season and claim the tournament crown.
• Loyola, which hit .269 (58-22-134), received a team-high 12 kills from Barnes, who also pitched in five digs, four blocks and three aces in her first match since 2019.
• Banitt also reached double figures, pounding 10 kills, while a trio of Ramblers – Anna Feldkamp, Venuto and Murczek – pitched in nine kills.

 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up play at the Golden Dome Invitational tonight at 6 p.m. CT when it battles No. 25 Notre Dame.