CHICAGO (September 3, 2021)
 
In Short
Led by junior middle hitter Taylor Venuto, who recorded 17 kills and did not commit a single error on the night (17-0-26), Loyola University Chicago (3-2) earned a 25-13, 25-18, 20-25, 25-19 victory over SIU Edwardsville (1-4) tonight in a Hampton Inn Chicago North/Loyola Station Rambler Challenge match at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who have won two straight contests, will play for the tournament title tomorrow afternoon versus Jesuit rival Xavier.
 
How It Happened
Sarah Murczek's kill broke a 7-7 tie and gave Loyola the lead for good in a 25-13 set-one decision. Clinging to an 11-10 advantage, the Ramblers spun off seven consecutive scores, three on kills from sophomore outside hitter Emily Banitt, to put away the contest. For the second time in as many matches today, Loyola came out on fire, hitting at a remarkable .567 (20-3-30) clip in the opener.
 
Loyola trailed by as many as two points in the second set, but turned things around when Venuto's kill ignited a string of five unanswered points, that also featured a pair of aces from Murczek, to turn a one-point deficit into a 16-12 edge. SIUE would work its way back within a point, at 16-15, but a 6-1 run cemented the outcome in an eventual 25-18 Rambler victory.
 
The Cougars hit .333 (10-2-24) in the third set and appeared to be in control with a 17-12 lead. However, Loyola stormed back, getting kills from Kelsey Watson, Anna Feldkamp, and a set-tying one from Murczek, in a 5-0 spurt that knotted the score at 17-17. But, five straight SIUE points put the Ramblers in a 22-17 hole they were unable to work their way out of in a 25-20 setback that forced a fourth set.
 
Addie Barnes served five straight points that broke an early tie and put the Ramblers ahead for good, at 6-1, in the fourth set. Included in that initial punch were a pair of kills from Feldkamp as well as two blocks courtesy of Watson. SIUE whittled its deficit down to 11-10, but a critical 7-1 Loyola spurt that was punctuated by back-to-back aces from Barnes, provided the hosts with a comfortable 18-11 lead that they would not yield on the way to a 25-19 win.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Venuto was nearly unstoppable and was unbelievably efficient, hitting at a .654 rate (17-0-26), while Barnes chipped in 13 kills and four aces. Loyola is now 15-3 in her career when Barnes serves up two or more aces.
• Murczek continued her consistent play, accounting for 10 kills, 12 digs and three aces and Watson complemented the Ramblers' attack with nine kills and five blocks.
• Grace Hinchman notched a team-high 19 blocks for Loyola, which also saw Lane Jenkins register a double-double with 29 assists and 10 digs.
• Ainsley Ranstead and Annie Ellis led SIUE with eight kills apiece.

 
Up Next
Loyola faces off with Xavier tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. CT. The Ramblers will be looking to win the Rambler Challenge for the second time in the last three years it has been played.