CHICAGO (September 16, 2022)Â
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In ShortÂ
In a season that has already seen its fair share of adversity in the first month, Loyola University Chicago (6-5) played without the services of three starters, including two-time, first team all-conference selections
Addie Barnes and
Taylor Venuto, and put up a fight in a 25-15, 25-23, 25-15 loss to UIC (7-3) tonight at the Flames Athletic Center on the opening day of play at the Chicago Cup.Â
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How It Happened
Loyola got off to a sluggish start, falling behind 8-2 in the opening set before finally finding some rhythm and working its way back within two points, scoring five of the next six points, two coming via
Sarah Murczek kills. UIC, which hit .321 (13-4-28) for the set, put things out of reach with an 8-1 run as it built its lead to nine points (19-10) on the way to a 25-15 victory.
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Set two brought out a totally different Loyola team as the Ramblers posted a .279 hitting percentage (17-5-43) in a gut-wrenching, 25-23 setback. Neither team led by more than three points throughout the set and the Ramblers seized a late advantage when they went on a 5-1 run that was keyed by consecutive kills from
Bree Borum for a 21-19 lead. The Flames rallied however, running off six of the next eight points for a 25-23 decision.
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UIC scored seven of the first eight points of set three and never looked back on the way to a 25-15 win to earn a sweep. Loyola fought back and
Emily Banitt sandwiched a kill and an ace around a
Sarah Murczek kill in a string of three unanswered points that allowed the Ramblers to creep within 12-10. UIC maintained a two-point edge until closing out the set on a 9-1 run to earn the victory.
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Inside the Numbers
- Murczek led the way eight kills and eight digs for the Ramblers, who also received six kills, six digs and 12 assists from Borum.
- UIC hit a red-hot .363 (43-10-91) for the night and got a match-high 13 kills from Paola Santiago.
- In her first action since the opening weekend of the season, Kelsey Watson totaled five kills.
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Up Next
Loyola continues action at the Chicago Cup tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. when it takes on DePaul.
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