CHICAGO (October 28, 2022)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (19-7, 13-0 A-10) tied a program record with its 13th straight win Friday evening after sweeping VCU (12-13, 7-6 A-10) at Gentile Arena, 25-20, 25-18, 25-13. Emily Banitt led with 12 kills, along with 11 from Karlie McNabb, as the Ramblers never trailed after the first set and hit over .400 across each of the final two frames. Loyola remains atop the Atlantic 10 standings and will meet VCU again tomorrow afternoon (4 p.m.) at Gentile.
 
How It Happened
Loyola looked to take command early on, using a 6-0 run that featured a pair of Kelsey Watson kills to charge in front, 9-5. VCU responded with a push of its own later in the set, rattling off seven unanswered points to take a 16-12 edge. The Maroon & Gold provided the final punch, as back-to-back McNabb spikes put the Ramblers back on level terms, 20-20. McNabb's sixth kill of the night capped off what ended as an 8-0 Loyola surge that saw the Ramblers take the first set, 25-20.
 
After a tight start to Set 2, the Ramblers used a 3-0 spurt to open a 12-8 lead. Kills from Banitt and Watson, followed by a Madi Corey ace forced a VCU timeout. The visitors stayed within three points until the Ramblers strung together another run, featuring kills from McNabb, Bree Borum and Addie Barnes, to claim a 21-15 lead. Loyola closed out the second set on an 8-3 run while hitting .424 (17-3-33) overall. Six different Ramblers had at least two kills in the frame, as Banitt's fourth gave Loyola the 25-18 victory.
 
The final set was all Loyola after a 7-0 run, keyed by a pair of aces from McNabb, put the Ramblers ahead 9-2. Momentum stayed on Loyola's side as the lead swelled to 20-8, and the Ramblers finished the third stanza hitting a solid .429 (16-4-28). Banitt finished the third with seven kills on eight attacks.
 
Looking At The Numbers

• Loyola recorded its second-highest team hitting percentage in league play at .337 (48-13-104)
• The Ramblers limited VCU to a .165 team hitting percentage
• Banitt and McNabb each tallied double-digit kills in back-to-back matches, and both posted 10 or more kills in 12 matches this season
• Borum logged her second straight double-double, and 11th this season, with 16 assists and 10 digs
• Bailey McMenimen finished with a team-high 20 assists and seven digs
• Grace Hinchman gathered a team-best 14 digs paired with five assists
• Corey led with a team-high three aces, including the match point
• Loyola collected six aces while VCU had three
• VCU had seven blocks while Loyola posted six

Up Next
Loyola and VCU will close the weekend with Saturday's 4 p.m. first serve at Gentile.