DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Loyola Chicago women's volleyball team picked up its first conference win of the season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Davidson Friday evening.
 
The Ramblers quickly jumped in front, 2-0, before Davidson rallied to take the next two sets. In the deciding fifth set, Loyola was in an 11-8 hole before ending the match on a 7-2 run to claim the 15-13 victory.
 
"I'm proud of this gritty Rambler team for staying the course," said head coach Amanda Berkley. "Davidson is a very good team and they improved each set and really pushed us. I'm really impressed with the defensive game from Karlie and Addie as they made a difference. Emily also had a great game offensively and was able to contribute with 16 digs."
 
Five Ramblers recorded double-doubles against the Wildcats. Bree Borum fell a kill shy of her third triple-double of the year with 41 assists, 18 digs and nine kills. Emily Banitt had a match-high 17 kills and 16 digs while Karlie McNabb and Addie Barnes had 11 kills each. Barnes ended the night with 19 digs while McNabb had 16. Grace Hinchman helped anchor the backline with 16 digs in the match.
 
Loyola jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the opening set thanks to eight consecutive Loyola points. Back-to-back aces by McNabb made it 7-2 Loyola, prompting a Davidson timeout. The timeout did little to stop the Rambler attack, as Loyola cruised to a 25-11 victory in the opening set to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Loyola's defense was on full display, limiting the Wildcats to a .034 hitting percentage.
 
Neither team led by more than three points in a second set that went down to the wire. Davidson looked to pull away, as a 5-2 scoring run put the Wildcats up by a 23-21 margin. Back-to-bac kills by McNabb and Barnes evened the set at 23-all, McNabb served up an ace to give the Ramblers set point at 24-23 and Taylor Venuto sealed the deal with a kill out of the middle.
 
Loyola and Davidson would play another close set in the third. Down the stretch, Loyola found themselves with five different match point opportunities. Davidson was able to fight off each one before eventually capitalizing on its third set point chance to claim the 32-30 decisision and push things to a fourth set.
 
The Ramblers had a 10-9 lead in the fourth set before Davidson went on a 7-1 run to jump ahead by a 16-11 margin. Loyola would eventually climb back within two at 20-18, prompting a Davidson timeout, but the Wildcats would hold off any further rally and force a decisive fifth set with a 25-21 victory.
 
In the deciding fifth set, Davidson built an 11-8 lead, forcing the Ramblers to burn a timeout. Out of the break, Venuto connected out of the middle and a Davidson error pulled Loyola within one. Davidson pushed the lead to 12-10 before Banitt took over. Banitt recorded the next there points for Loyola, all off kills, to give Loyola a 13-12 lead. Barnes converted from the outside to give Loyola match point and a Wildcat error clinched the victory.
 
The two teams will wrap up the weekend series Saturday evening, with first serve set for 5 p.m. (CT).
 
News and Notes

• Barnes matched a career high with her 19 digs while Borum set a season high with her 18.
• Loyola doubled up Davidson in blocks, 14-7. Anna Feldkamp led the way, getting in on eight blocks during the match.
• McNabb served up a match-high three aces against the Wildcats