EVANSTON, Ill. (September 18, 2021)
 
In Short
A spirited effort came up short as Loyola University Chicago (7-5) dropped a 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 decision to host Northwestern (5-6) tonight in the final match of the Chicago Cup at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Taylor Venuto, who hit .500 (9-2-14) with nine kills tonight, was named to the Chicago Cup All-Tournament Team. 
 
How It Happened
Northwestern jumped out quickly, scoring nine of the first 12 points of set one to open up a six-point advantage. Loyola fought back behind the hitting of Addie Barnes, who blasted two kills during a 6-2 spurt that chopped the Wildcats' lead to 17-15 and forced a NU timeout. Ella Grbac made sure the Ramblers got no closer down the stretch, producing a kill and a block in a pivotal 3-0 NU run that bumped the lead to 21-16 and the 'Cats held on for a 25-20 decision.
 
A string of five unanswered points, capped by a Taylor Venuto/Emily Banitt rejection, helped Loyola overcome a two-point deficit and seize an 11-8 lead. That advantage would be short-lived however, with Northwestern countering with a 5-1 run that gave it a 13-12 edge. Following a kill from Venuto that evened the set, NU rolled off three consecutive scores to open up a 16-13 lead and Loyola was unable to dig its way out of that hole, despite climbing within a point on two more occasions in a 25-21 defeat.
 
Kelsey Watson had a kill and a hand in a pair of blocks in a 5-1 Ramblers burst in set three that gave them a 10-7 edge early on. Northwestern immediately responded with three tallies of its own to not the score and from there, neither team led by more than two points until Northwestern spun off three straight tallies to snap a tie and grab a 21-18 advantage. 
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Venuto compiled a team-best nine kills tonight and added two digs and a block.
• Addie Barnes and Karlie McNabb added six kills apiece for Loyola, which hit at a .165 clip for the night.
• Temi Thomas-Aliara recorded a match-high 12 kills to lead Northwestern.

 
Up Next
Loyola opens up Missouri Valley Conference action next weekend when it visits Missouri State (Sept. 24) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 25).