ANN ARBOR, Mich. (September 2, 2022) 
 
In Short 
Four players recorded double-digit kills as Loyola University Chicago (2-2) rallied for a 24-26, 25-15, 25-19, 26-24 victory over Morehead State (2-1) this morning at Cliff Keen Arena in the opening match of the Michigan Invitational. With the win, the Ramblers improved to 2-0 in four-set matches this season. 
 
How It Happened
A stretch of seven consecutive points, two coming via Karlie McNabb kills, allowed Loyola to wipe away a slim, one-point deficit and grab an 18-12 lead in the first set. Morehead State charged right back and eventually tied the set at 19-19. The teams battled back and forth for a brief period and then staring at a one-point deficit (23-22), Loyola got a kill from Emily Banitt before an MSU attack error gave the Ramblers a 24-23 advantage. Morehead State countered by registering the final three points of the set to deal Loyola a heartbreaking 26-24 setback.
 
Loyola displayed its resolve by bouncing back from that tough defeat in the opening set to record a convincing 25-15 victory in set two. The Ramblers jumped all over the Eagles from the opening serve, scoring the first six points, two coming on kills from Taylor Venuto and another two coming on aces by McNabb, and they never looked back. From that point forward, Morehead State never got closer than five points and Venuto and Esma Ajanovic teamed up to turn away back-to-back MSU attacks for the final two points of the set win.
 
After digging themselves a three-point hole early in the third set, the Ramblers rode the back of Venuto, who had a pair of kills and two block assists in a 7-2 burst that nudged Loyola ahead, 15-13. That lead was short-lived however as the Eagles rallied to tie the score at 15-15. The teams then exchanged points before Loyola closed out the set by tallying nine of the final 12 points to earn a 25-19 decision and take the lead in the match. 
 
The Ramblers staged a late comeback in set four to capture a 26-24 decision to win the match. Loyola rallied from an early five-point (12-7) deficit and eventually seized a 19-17 lead before the Eagles came back themselves and held a 24-22 advantage. A kill from McNabb cut the MSU lead in half and Grace Hinchman followed with an ace as momentum swung completely in Loyola's favor. The Maroon & Gold closed out the set with a McNabb kill for a trilling 26-24 victory. 
 
Inside the Numbers

• Addie Barnes tallied a team-high 13 kills to lead a balanced Loyola attack that also saw three other players reach double figures in that statistical category.
• Sophomore Esma Ajanovic had her best match as a Rambler, swatting a career-best 11 kills, while adding four blocks and hitting at a .438 (11-4-16) clip.
• Playing back in her native state of Michigan, Venuto finished with 11 kills, eight blocks and a pair of aces, while hitting a highly efficient .647 (11-0-17). Banitt rounded out the crop of Ramblers with 10 or more kills as she racked up a season-high 10 stops. 
• McNabb pitched in seven kills, 10 digs and two aces for a Loyola squad that hit .320 (59-19-125).
• Abby Hulsman led Morehead State with 18 kills.

 
Up Next
Loyola gets little time to rest up before its next match. The Ramblers take on Toledo at 4 p.m. CT this afternoon in their second match at the Michigan Invitational.