MILWAUKEE, Wis. (September 6, 2022)
In Short
Emily Banitt recorded 18 kills, one shy of her career high, but it wasn't enough to help a spirited Loyola University Chicago (3-4) squad as No. 23 Marquette (4-1) earned a 25-19, 25-14, 27-29, 25-19 victory at the Al McGuire Center tonight.
How It Happened
Both teams got off to slow starts offensively in set one and were deadlocked at 15-15 until the Golden Eagles spun off five unanswered points to grab a 20-15 lead they would never surrender. Loyola got within three points on two occasions, the last coming when
Taylor Venuto and Banitt teamed up for a block that trimmed the deficit to 21-18 but Marquette recorded the next three points to extend the lead to six on the way to a 25-19 victory.
The Ramblers couldn't get anything going in set two and wound up hitting just .108 (9-5-37), while everything seemed to go Marquette's way. A Banitt kill cut the hosts' lead to 6-4, but from there the Golden Eagles registered five unanswered points to provide an 11-4 cushion that would grow to as many as eleven points in a 25-14 decision.
Loyola got off to a hot start in set three, getting kills from
Anna Feldkamp,
Karlie McNabb and Banitt as it tallied the first four points of the set. Marquette battled back with four of the next five points to tie the score at 5-5 and from there, neither team led by more than two until late in the set. A
Sarah Murczek service ace put the Ramblers back ahead, 19-18, but a Loyola service error and consecutive kills from Ella Holmstrom put the Golden Eagles back on top, 22-20. Loyola battled back to grab a 23-22 advantage and then the teams exchanged points until an
Addie Barnes kill put the Ramblers on top, 28-27, and a Golden Eagles hitting error closed out Loyola's wild 29-27 victory.
Madi Corey's ace early in set four bumped Loyola's lead to 7-5, however Marquette would account for five of the next six points to seize a 10-8 lead. After the Ramblers battled back to draw even, the Golden Eagles ripped off four straight tallies to claim the lead for good. Loyola closed within a point on three occasions, but each time Marquette had an answer. The Ramblers attempted one last charge and cut a five-point gap (21-16) down to two (21-19), thanks to another kill from Banitt and an ace from
Bree Borum, but Marquette finished the set with four unanswered points to claim the win.
Inside the Numbers
- Banitt put on quite on a performance on her 20th birthday, ripping 18 kills, one shy of her career best set versus Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship title match last November. The junior hit .361 (18-5-36) and tallied eight of her kills in set three alone.
- Borum recorded a double-double with 27 assists and 14 digs and Grace Hinchman added 24 digs.
- Holmstrom led Marquette with 17 kills.
Up Next
Loyola opens up play at the Hampton Inn Chicago – North Loyola Station Rambler Challenge Friday at 12:30 p.m. when it hosts St. Thomas.
