PITTSBURGH, Pa. (October 8, 2022)
 
In Short…
Led by a double-double from Karlie McNabb, Loyola University Chicago (12-7, 6-0 A-10) remained perfect in Atlantic 10 Conference play, picking up a 25-16, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15 win over host Duquesne (3-15, 0-6 A-10) this evening inside the Kerr Fitness & Sports Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
How It Happened
Following a nip and tuck start to the first set, Loyola took control with a 5-1 spurt, capped off by an Emily Banitt kill that staked the Ramblers to a 16-11 lead.  After seeing Duquesne close the gap to 16-13, the Maroon & Gold responded with five unanswered points, the last two of which came on service aces from Addie Barnes, to open up a commanding 21-13 edge. Kills from McNabb and Kelsey Watson, respectively, wrapped up a 25-16 set one triumph for Loyola, which hit a red-hot .536 (16-1-28) in the first stanza.
 
Much like in the night's opening frame, Loyola again used a sizeable run to seize control in the second set.  Bree Borum dumped one over the net to give the Ramblers an 8-7 advantage and spark an 8-1 surge, punctuated by a Grace Hinchman ace, that saw the lead balloon to 15-8.  An Olivia Lovett kill stretched the margin to double digits, 20-10, as Loyola coasted in the second set, 25-13.
 
Loyola found itself in an early hole in the third set as Duquesne jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage.  Slowly but surely, the Ramblers chipped away, taking their first lead of the set, 10-9, on another Barnes ace that closed a 4-0 surge.  The two teams traded scoring runs in the set's middle stages, highlighted by a 4-1 Loyola push that saw the Maroon & Gold open up a 20-18 lead.  With the margin sitting at 23-21 following a Barnes spike, Duquesne, as it did to open the set, rattled off four straight points, with a Hailey Poling kill sealing a 25-23 win for the Dukes that extended the match to a fourth set.
 
Staring at an early 8-7 deficit, Loyola quickly extinguished any hopes for a Duquesne rally with a 6-1 run that included kills from Borum and McNabb to create breathing room, 13-9.  After seeing the Dukes close within five, 19-14, Loyola closed out the set with authority.  Back-to-back kills from McNabb laid the foundation for a match-ending 6-1 spurt.  Taylor Venuto provided the exclamation point, ripping a kill to put Loyola on the brink, 24-15, before registering a solo block on Ariel Helm to wrap up a 25-15 win.   
 
Inside The Numbers
- McNabb, the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Week, finished with 12 kills and 12 digs to post her second double-double of the season.  The Sun Prairie, Wis. native has reached double figures in kills in four straight matches and seven of her 11 appearances in 2022.
- Borum dished out a match-high 45 assists in addition to seven kills.
- Banitt and Anna Feldkamp added eight kills apiece, while Hinchman was credited with a match-best 15 digs.
- Elizabeth Osborn paced Duquesne with a match-high 16 kills.  
 
Up Next
Loyola goes after a weekend sweep when it closes out its series with Duquesne tomorrow at 11 a.m. (CT).