CHICAGO – In front of the largest crowd in Loyola Chicago women's volleyball history, the Ramblers dropped a hard-fought 3-1 decision to #18 Tennessee Friday evening in Loyola's first home match of the season.
 
Karlie McNabb matched her season high with 17 kills in front of the record-setting crowd of 1,115 fans. Bree Borum notched her team-leading fifth double-double of the year with 42 assists and 12 digs. Addie Barnes notched a season-high 12 kills and Olivia Lovett, making her first-ever start at Libero had a team-high 15 digs.
 
Despite never leading in the opening set, Loyola nearly climbed back to steal the openere against the Lady Volunteers. Trailing 23-18, an Emily Banitt kill sparked a 4-0 Rambler run to cut the deficit to one. Esma Ajanovic served up an ace for the second point of the run before Banitt connected again for another kill. Addie Barnes and Anna Feldkamp teamed up for a block to make it a 1-point game and force a timeout by the visitors. The run couldn't be sustained following the timeout, with Tennessee claiming the final two points for the 25-22 decision.
 
The second set was neck-and-neck throughout, with Loyola facing a 21-20 deficit following back-to-back kills from McNabb and Ella Ramsay, but Tennessee rattled off the final four points to take the set 25-20 and jump in front by a 2-0 margin in the match.
 
Despite finding themselves in an early 5-1 hole, the Ramblers battled back to take the third set and extend the match. Tied at 12-all, Loyola ripped off four consecutive points to take the lead, 16-12. Feldkamp connected on a kill, Banitt served up back-to-back aces and Barnes had a solo block to put Loyola ahead by a 16-12 margin. Tennessee attempted to come back, tying the score up at 20-all, but a Volunteer service error would ultimately give the Ramblers the 25-23 victory.
 
Banitt put the Ramblers in front, 19-17, off the kill from the Borum assist as Loyola looked to push the match to a decisive fifth set. Tennesse called a timeout and came out of the stoppage on a 5-0 run to jump back in front, 22-19. Feldkamp and Borum helped fight off the first match point with a block to make it 24-22, but Tennessee converted on the next point for the 25-23 victory.
 
Loyola returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Ramblers take on No. 9 Pittsburgh on ESPN+.
 
News and Notes

• McNabb's 17 kills matches her season high, which she set against No. 18 Purdue on Aug. 27.
• Ajanovic served up a team-high three aces and has the team lead on the season with 13.
• Loyola owned an 8-6 advantage in blocks. Barnes and Feldkamp were each in on a team-best four stuffs.