KINGSTON, R.I. – Loyola Chicago is on a three-match win streak after downing Rhode Island in five sets on the road, 3-2. Four Ramblers finished with double-figure kills, including career-highs from Esma Ajanovic and Kate Maley.
 
The Ramblers improve to 8-7 overall and 3-1 in Atlantic 10 play.
 
"I thought Rhode Island played great after the first set," said head coach Amanda Berkley. "They blocked really well, and we didn't respond to being stressed until the fifth set. We have to do a better job defensively tomorrow and be ready to compete."
 
Ajanovic matched her career-best with 16 kills Friday night. She added five digs, three blocks, and two assists. Maley also set a new career-high with 15 kills and recorded three digs and three blocks.
 
Ann Marie Remmes hit a whopping .722 on the night with 13 kills, which is just one shy of her season-high. Remmes had a team-leading four blocks. Marta Cvitkovic was the final Rambler in double-figures with 13 kills.
 
Another season-high came for Bree Borum who registered 47 assists. Her previous high was 45 against UIC back in September.
 
How It Happened
Set One: The first point of Friday's match came from the middle with DeBlieck setting the tone for Loyola out of the first serve. The Rams hung with the Ramblers until Remmes sparked a 3-0 run for Loyola to build the gap, 8-4. Loyola continued dominate using another 3-0 and 4-0 run to pull ahead by 10, 21-11. Kaitlyn Burke came off the bench and registered the kill to increase the lead to double-digits. Burke led Loyola to three more unanswered points and the final kill of the set to win, 25-14.
 
Set Two: Ajanovic led Loyola to a 4-1 lead in set two with a pair of kills in the opening points. The Rams didn't let the Ramblers get ahead by much and responded pulling within one six times before Sydney Houchens tied the match on a kill, 9-9. Aerin Bowman would tie it again, while a Maley attack error allowed Rhode Island to take its first lead, 14-13. It was toe to toe for the remainder of the set. Kiera McCarles gave the Rams a three-point edge with an ace, 21-19. Loyola would get back within one with back-to-back kills from Maley and Remmes. Loyola's late run fell short with the Rams delivering an ace for set point, 25-22.
 
Set Three: The teams continued to battle in the third set Friday night. The set saw 17 ties with neither team pulling ahead by more than two at any point. Maley tallied the first Loyola point on a kill to tie the set 1-1, while a Rhode Island error gave the Ramblers their first lead 2-1. URI took a two-point edge with back to back kills from Havyn Rolle, 12-10. Down the stretch, Borum had a kill and ace in two straight points for Loyola to take a 22-20 lead. Two Loyola errors allowed the Rams to tie the set, 23-23, but they followed up with two attack errors, and Loyola won, 25-25.
 
Set Four: The fourth set was much like the third with the Ramblers and Rams trading the lead. Loyola took an early 2-0 lead with Ajanovic's help, while Rhode Island swung it in its favor with three straight in response. The Rams gained a two-point edge with a Rolle ace, 10-8. They continued to control the set and built their lead to four with a kill from Bowman, 16-11. Loyola went down seven before using a 7-1 run to knot the set 23-23. Cvitkovic tallied a kill and ace to lead the Ramblers during the run. Bowman stalled Loyola's progress, and the Rams forced a fifth set, 25-23.
 
Set Five: Despite the first point going to Rhode Island, the Ramblers responded with six unanswered points. Maley posted back to back kills forcing a Rhode Island timeout, while Ajanovic capped the 6-0 run with a kill to go up 6-1. The Ramblers remained lethal with three more kills from Ajanovic, Borum, and Maley for a seven-point lead, 9-2. The Rams struggled to find a rhythm, and DeBlieck would seal their fate, 15-8.
 
Up Next
The series between Loyola and Rhode Island concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.