KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Loyola Chicago swept its way to its first win of the season Sunday morning. The Ramblers retired LMU in three sets to improve to 1-2 overall on the year.

"I'm proud of the team for improving each match and improving different areas of the game," said head coach Amanda Berkley. "Our serving was much improved, we played better defense, and we cut down on hitting errors. I thought Avary and Ann Marie had a very good match offensively. We're excited to take this progress and get back to work this week ahead of Michigan State."
 
Kate Maley led the offensive attack with 10 kills, while Marta Cvitkovic and Ann Marie Remmes tallied nine each.
 
Bree Borum recorded her second straight match with 30 assists. She added eight digs.
 
Jae Fitting had a team-best 15 digs, while Esma Ajanovic led the match with five blocks.
 
How It Happened
Set One: The Ramblers couldn't shake the Lions to start the first set until Remmes recorded a kill to spark a 7-0 run, putting Loyola ahead, 12-6. LMU clawed back within two after Sophia Meyers tallied three kills in a 5-1 stretch for the Lions. Loyola led by as much as six on three separate occasions, but LMU scored four unanswered. The Lions' late rally was halted by Avary DeBlieck with set point. Ramblers won, 25-23.
 
Set Two: The Lions jumped ahead early in set two with a pair of aces, making it 5-2. The Ramblers didn't falter and turned a 7-0 run into a 15-10 lead. Ajanovic tallied two kills to lead Loyola in the streak. Sam Hastings and Meyers got the Lions back within two with an ace and kill down the stretch, while a late block assist on a Maley attack made it 23-21 in Loyola's favor. Maley was able to rebound for the final point, leading the Ramblers to a 25-22 finish.
 
Set Three: Ajanovic came out swinging for the Ramblers, taking a lead out of the gates that Loyola would hold on to until midway through the set. LMU tallied five straight points, four on Loyola errors, to capture its first lead of the match, 15-14. The set saw five ties until Remmes sparked a 4-0 run with three Ramblers scoring to go up 23-19 over the Lions. Remmes and Borum would close out the set with kills to secure Loyola's first win of the year.
 
Up Next
Loyola will prep for the Michigan State Invite next weekend. The Ramblers will play Marist, Western Kentucky, and Michigan State beginning Friday, Sept. 6.