CHICAGO (October 29, 2022)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (20-7, 14-0 A-10) extended its winning streak to a new program record 14 consecutive matches after sweeping VCU (12-14, 7-7 A-10) Saturday afternoon at Gentile Arena, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20. Kelsey Watson led an efficient attack with a team-high 12 kills and Karlie McNabb gathered a career-best 15 digs with eight digs and two aces. Loyola now holds the fourth-longest active winning streak in the nation, while moving two games ahead of Davidson in the Atlantic 10 standings.
 
How It Happened
Both teams struggled to gain separation early in the afternoon's first set. Emily Banitt rose up to give Loyola a slim 11-10 edge, before an Anna Feldkamp kill pushed the lead to 15-12.  After seeing VCU close to within 15-14, Feldkamp found herself back in the mix again, capping off a 4-0 run with a kill that stretched the gap to 19-14. The Rams attempted to mount a late rally, cutting their deficit to 24-20, but a Taylor Venuto kill off the block sealed a 25-20 win for the Maroon & Gold. Watson finished with half (6) of her kills in the opening set.
 
In the second set, Loyola overcame a pair of four-point deficits after weathering an early VCU momentum shift. The visiting Rams took a 9-5 lead on back-to-back kills, but the Ramblers were up for the challenge as Feldkamp's kill stopped the run. Watson sparked momentum for Loyola with a solo block and a kill to pull within a point. Then, McNabb's kill gave the Ramblers their first lead of the set at 12-11. Loyola rode the momentum wave, hitting .312 in the second set, as the Maroon & Gold closed out the second stanza by outscoring VCU 20-8.
 
After a tightly-contested third set and VCU not going away easily, Loyola was forced to overcome another four-point deficit, with the rally coming late in the frame. After the score was tied 12-12, the Rams stormed out to a 17-13 advantage after an ace sparked momentum. However, Watson got things going again for Loyola with her final kill of the day, and the Ramblers came back to even the match at 17-17. Three consecutive points ended the match with a kill from Taylor Venuto, an ace from McNabb, and a kill from Addie Barnes.
 
Looking At The Numbers

• Loyola outhit VCU .282 to .127, including a match-high .361 in the first set
• Watson, who hit .688 in the match, reached double digits in the kills (12) column for the second time this season and first against a conference opponent
• There were 19 ties and seven lead changes overall in the match, with four lead changes occurring in the opening set
• Bree Borum collected her third straight double-double effort with 17 assists and 13 digs. She now has 12 double-doubles on the season
• Bayley McMenimen dished out a team-high 21 assists
• McNabb's career defensive effort marked her seventh outing with 10 or more digs
• Grace Hinchman notched 10 digs to reach double digits for the ninth straight outing
• Venuto finished with a team-high three blocks to go with six kills

Up Next
Loyola travels to Dayton for a pair of matches on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 4-5. The Ramblers will close out the regular season with two home matches against Davidson the following week.