CHICAGO – The Ramblers and Flames battled through a five-set thriller with Loyola Chicago coming away with a 3-2 win over UIC. It was the first time this season the Ramblers saw five sets and first win that wasn't a sweep. They improve to 4-6 overall.
"I'm really proud of our team tonight," said head coach
Amanda Berkley. "Our pin hitters took advantage of great opportunities and executed well tonight. Overall, it was a team effort to get the win in five sets tonight, and I'm proud of what we accomplished. Time to get ready for DePaul and carry this momentum to Saturday."
Bree Borum recorded her second straight and fourth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 18 digs. Both are season-highs for the senior setter.
Marta Cvitkovic and
Olivia Lovett eclipsed 10 kills tonight for the Ramblers. Cvitkovic set a new season-best with 18, while Lovett also notched a season-high 15.
Ann Marie Remmes added seven with a team-best .389 hitting percentage.
Cvitkovic and
Jae Fitting dished out three aces each. Fitting also had 16 digs.
How It Happened
Set One: The Flames opened the match with two straight kills to take control early and jumped out to a 5-1 lead with Zahria Woodard's second kill of the set. Cvitkovic stepped up for Loyola, sparking five straight points. Cvitkovic and
Esma Ajanovic capped the run with back-to-back kills, and the Ramblers captured their first lead of the match, 9-7. Woodard tallied a solo block to tie the match 9-9, but the Ramblers continued their offensive tear, extending their lead to 18-11 with an ace from
Sam Falk. The Flames couldn't find a late spark, and Ajanovic's kill claimed the first set, 25-19.
Set Two: Despite the Flames opening the second set on a 6-2 run, the Ramblers chipped away to get within one with three consecutive UIC errors, 10-9. Loyola would tie the match 14-14 on a
Jae Fitting ace to remain in the game. An attack error by Ayat Amin knotted things at 16 all, but the Ramblers couldn't swing momentum in their favor. Remmes, and Cvitkovic had kills to pull Loyola within one, while Cvitkovic's ace made it a 22-21 UIC lead down the stretch. The Flames held on to win, 25-22, with two straight Loyola errors to end the action.
Set Three: Loyola gained an early lead with an attack error on the first serve from the Flames. UIC tied the set three times before Remmes tallied a kill to go up 4-3. Loyola held control for the remainder of the set, gaining further separation at 10-6 on back-to-back kills from Cvitkovic and Ajanovic. Ajanovic struck again for a seven-point Loyola lead, while a UIC attack error gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the set, 21-14. The Flames tried to use a late 3-0 run rally sparked by Cleo Lorenzo, forcing a Loyola timeout. The Ramblers regrouped with a Remmes kill to clinch the set, 25-19.
Set Four: UIC stuck around in the fourth set, ultimately forcing Loyola's first fifth set of the season. The Flames held an edge out of the first serve and turned it into an 8-4 lead on an ace from Antonie Kelnarova. The Ramblers couldn't cut the lead past three. Lovett registered a kill to cut it 20-17, while Cvitkovic and
Avary DeBlieck tallied back-to-back kills, challenging UIC's set point, but Gabi Peter found a hole for the final point of the set, 25-21.
Set Five: Lovett and Fitting started the set with a kill and ace, respectively, as the Ramblers jumped ahead, 3-1. UIC didn't let Loyola get far ahead and tied it with a kill from Kayanna Jones. The teams traded points and tied the match eight times before Cvitkovic's kill put the Ramblers up 14-12 for match point. Peter delivered another blow to keep the pressure on, but Cvitkovic swung hard with no chance for reception. Ramblers won, 15-13.
Up Next
The Chicago Cup concludes with Loyola and DePaul meeting Saturday for a 5 pm first serve.
