WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Loyola women's volleyball team dropped its season opener Friday afternoon, falling to 18^th-ranked Creighton by a 3-0 final.
 
It was a tightly contested match throughout, as the Ramblers held late leads in each set but were unable to secure a set against the nationally ranked Bluejays.
 
Karlie McNabb had a team-high 10 kills to go along with 11 digs while Anna Feldkamp had an effective day at the net with nine kills on just one error, finishing the day with a .500 hitting percentage. Bree Borum notched her first double-double of the season with 27 assists and 10 digs while Grace Hinchman had a team-leading 13 digs along the backline.
 
The Ramblers came storming out of the gate, taking a 6-0 lead in the opening set and forcing Creighton to burn a timeout. Loyola would maintain the lead until the very end, as Creighton would score nine of the final 11 points of the opening set to take a 25-23 decision and a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Creighton looked to have pulled away in the second set, scoring seven unanswered points to build a 19-14 lead, but the Ramblers battled back. Six consecutive Loyola points put the Maroon and Gold back in front by a slim 20-19 lead. The second set would go into extra points, with Creighton ultimately prevailing, 28-26, to go up 2-0 at the break.
 
In a tightly contested third set, Emily Banitt connected off a Borum set to put Loyola in front by a slim 21-20 margin. Creighton once again pulled away down the stretch, scoring five of the final six points to secure the match with a 25-22 victory in the third set.
 
Loyola returns to action Saturday for Day 2 of the Purdue Reamer Club Xtra Special Premier, as the Ramblers are set to take on Duke at 5pm (CT).
 
News and Notes

• McNabb and Borum collected the first two double-doubles of the year for the Ramblers. McNabb finished with 10 kills and 11 digs while Borum had 27 assists and 10 digs.
• The Ramblers held a 6-4 advantage in service aces. Borum led the charge with three while Banitt, Hinchman and Esma Ajanovic each tallied one.
• Taylor Venuto was in on a pair of blocks Friday while Feldkamp, Barnes, Banitt and Borum each assisted on a block.