ST. LOUIS (October 4, 2022) 
 
In Short 
Karlie McNabb, who was named Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week yesterday, continued her outstanding play tonight, smashing a match-high 16 kills to power Loyola University Chicago (11-7, 5-0 A-10) to a 25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-11 victory over Saint Louis (12-5, 4-1 A-10) at Chaifetz Pavilion in a battle of first-place teams. The Ramblers have now won eight of their last 11 matches, including each of the last five, and remain tied atop in the A-10 standings with Davidson.
 
How It Happened
Saint Louis opened up an 11-7 advantage in the first set, but playing back in her hometown, Kelsey Watson had a hand in a pair of blocks and added a kill in a string of five unanswered points that gave the Ramblers a 12-11 lead. Loyola would add to that run, eventually extending it to a 12-4 spurt that increased its edge to 19-15. The Billikens worked their way back within a point on three occasions down the stretch, but Loyola had an answer each time, with Emily Banitt's kill putting a bow on the Ramblers' 25-23 victory.
 
Three straight points midway through the second set gave the Billikens a 13-10 lead they never relinquished on the way to a 25-21 win. Loyola inched its way back within a point twice down the stretch, the final time coming on an Anna Feldkamp kill that cut the deficit to 17-16, but SLU responded with consecutive scores to nudge its lead back to three (19-16).
 
Loyola stormed out of the gate, scoring eight of the first nine points of set three as Taylor Venuto made her first appearance of the night and tallied two kills and an assisted block, while McNabb pitched in a kill and a pair of aces, during that opening burst. The Ramblers' lead would eventually work its way to 19-8 before the Billikens cut into the deficit with four straight points. However, back-to-back kills from McNabb and two more from Banitt comprised a 4-0 spurt that built the lead back up to 11, at 23-12, and Loyola would go on to capture a 25-15 decision.
 
Much like the previous stanza, the Ramblers started fast and finished strong in a 25-11 victory in set four to claim the match. Banitt had a kill and assisted on a block and Addie Barnes capped a 7-3 opening spurt with an ace as Loyola never trailed, while hitting a spectacular .391 (10-1-23) in the set. Leading 14-9, the Ramblers put the contest away with a 7-0 run that featured three kills from Venuto.  
 
Inside the Numbers

• McNabb has totaled 10 or more kills in each of her three appearances since returning to action last weekend following a three-week absence. Tonight, the junior outside hitter also contributed eight digs, a career-best four service aces and two blocks.
• Banitt collected nine kills and four blocks and Venuto was dominant despite participating in only two sets, compiling eight kills and two blocks, while hitting a robust .571 (8-0-14). 
• Watson racked up five kills and six blocks and Bree Borum chalked up another double-double with 35 assists and 10 digs.
• Sarah Murczek registered 17 digs.
• Emily Henken led the way for Saint Louis with 13 kills.
• Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Loyola is 34-3 when winning the opening set of a match.
• For the third time in five seasons under head coach Amanda Berkley, the Ramblers have opened conference play by winning their first five outings.

 
Up Next
Loyola continues a three-match road trip this weekend when it heads to Pittsburgh to battle Duquesne October 8 and 9.