CHICAGO (October 15, 2022) 
 
In Short 
Four different players notched at least nine kills as Loyola University Chicago (15-7, 9-0 A-10) secured its ninth consecutive win thanks to a 25-11, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17 victory over George Mason (5-15, 1-8 A-10) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who also won their eighth straight match at Gentile Arena dating back to last season, are off to their best start in league play (9-0), regardless of conference affiliation, in program history.
 
How It Happened
Loyola dominated the first set from the opening serve on its way to an easy 25-11 victory, hitting .350 (10-3-20), while George Mason scuffled to a meager -.280 attack percentage (4-11-25). Two kills each from Emily Banitt and Kelsey Watson were part of the Ramblers' 6-1 start to the match and the onslaught was on from there as the Patriots never got closer than four points. Watson was a force all-around in that opening set, swatting three kills and tallying seven blocks.
 
A 12-4 run early in the second set proved to be the difference in the Ramblers' 25-17 win. It wasn't Loyola's most efficient set from an offensive perspective, but the Maroon and Gold served three aces, including consecutive ones from Karlie McNabb during that decisive run.
 
George Mason appeared to be down and out after the first two sets, but rebounded to earn a 25-21 decision in set three to cut Loyola's lead in the match in half. The Patriots accounted for 10 of the first 15 points in the third set, but the Ramblers battled back, getting consecutive kills from McNabb to spark a 6-1 spurt that knotted the score at 11-11. After the teams exchanged points, a 6-2 George Mason burst, which was capped by a service ace from Stephanie Der, put the Patriots ahead to stay, at 18-14.
 
Loyola claimed the lead for good in the fourth set thanks to a 5-1 spurt that included two kills from Watson and was punctuated by back-to-back blocks from Taylor Venuto and Bree Borum, to give the Ramblers an 11-7 advantage. The Patriots inched their way back within three points, at 15-12, but McNabb recorded four kills and assisted with Venuto on a block during a 10-5 dash to the finish for a 25-17 victory. McNabb pounded five of her 11 kills on the day in the fourth set, while Venuto registered four kills and four blocks in the fourth set alone
 
Inside the Numbers

• McNabb and Banitt provided 11 kills apiece to pace the Loyola attack, with McNabb also pitching in four digs, four blocks and three aces, while Banitt added five digs, three blocks and hit .364 (11-3-22).
• Venuto contributed nine kills and six blocks on the afternoon and Watson narrowly missed a double-double with nine kills and nine rejections of her own.
• Borum picked up another double-double, her ninth of the season, by totaling 27 assists and 10 digs, while adding a pair of aces and two blocks.
• Loyola's current nine-match win streak is its longest since capturing 11 consecutive outings, September 4-24, 2015.
• Olyvia Kennedy drilled a team-high nine kills for George Mason, which dropped its eighth straight contest.

 
Up Next
Loyola looks to continue its winning ways next weekend when it travels to Rhode Island for a two-match series, October 21 and 22.