CHICAGO (September 17, 2022) 
 
In Short 
Kelsey Watson smacked a career-best 17 kills but Loyola University Chicago's (6-6) spirited effort fell short in a 17-25, 26-24, 14-25, 23-25 loss to crosstown rival DePaul (4-7) this morning at the Flames Athletic Center.
 
How It Happened
Sarah Murczek tallied three kills as Loyola jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the opening set, but a 9-2 run gave DePaul a 13-9 lead it would never relinquish on the way to a 25-17 decision. An Emily Banitt kill put an end to that Blue Demons run and the Ramblers would add two more points to close within a point (13-12), however DePaul would record six of the next eight points to extend its lead back to five, at 19-14.
 
Loyola overcame an early three-point deficit and late in the second set received back-to-back kills from Kelsey Watson to claim a 19-17 advantage. The Ramblers appeared in command with a 23-20 lead only to see DePaul storm back to things up at 23-23. After the teams traded scores, Olivia Lovett and Murczek provided consecutive kills for a 26-24 victory that tied the match at a set apiece.
 
DePaul scored six of the first seven points in set three but Loyola quickly got back into the game as four players tallied kills in a 5-1 run that was capped by a Lovett kill that shrunk the gap to 7-6. Shortly thereafter, clinging to a one-point edge, the Blue Demons used an 8-0 run to take control on their way to a 25-14 win. Loyola hit just -.032 (10-11-31) in the set, while DePaul hit a blistering .429 (8-2-14).
 
The Ramblers climbed out of a four-point hole (13-9) in set four, assembling a 6-1 spurt that included three kills from Anna Feldkamp, the final of which put Loyola on top, 15-14. The teams battled back and forth from that point forward with neither leading by more than two points and another Watson kill had the Ramblers envisioning a fifth set as the score drew even at 23-23. However, a Bailey Nelson kill and a Loyola error finished out DePaul's 25-23 victory. 
 
Inside the Numbers

• Watson's 17 kills easily surpassed her previous career-best mark of 10, which she had reached on six occasions, most recently last November at Drake. She finished the match today with a .419 hitting percentage (17-4-31).
• Three other Ramblers joined Watson in double-digit kills – Murczek with 12, Feldkamp with 11 and Banitt with 10. Banitt also pitched in 12 digs for her first double-double of the season.
• As a team, DePaul sported a .314 (50-13-118) hitting percentage for the match.

 
Up Next
Loyola faces Northwestern today at 5 p.m. in its final contest at the Chicago Cup.