CHICAGO – The Ramblers went undefeated in the Chicago Cup hosted by DePaul after downing the Blue Demons, 3-1, Saturday night. Loyola Chicago had four players record double-digit kills, while Bree Borum posted her first triple-double of the season with 10 kills, 44 assists and 16 digs.
 
Loyola closes the non-conference portion of its schedule at 5-6 overall.
 
"What a match from Bree Borum tonight. She finished with a triple double which is pretty impressive," said head coach Amanda Berkley. "Bree had a great match finding her hitters, and we finished with four hitters getting double-digit kills. Each week, we continue to get better at different skills, and this week attacking took a step forward. I am proud of the team for coming ready to play this weekend in the Chicago Cup."
 
Marta Cvitkovic led Loyola's attack with 15 kills, while Olivia Lovett and Ann Marie Remmes added 11 each.
 
The Ramblers were active on the net, posting 12 total blocks. Remmes and Avary DeBlieck finished with four each.
 
How It Happened
Set One: The Ramblers opened the match on a dominate 6-2 run that forced an early timeout by the Blue Demons. In the run, Esma Ajanovic, Remmes, and Borum dished out kills, while Sam Falk had an ace for four unanswered. Out of the break, Loyola's lead went up to six with a DePaul attack error, and the lead would climb to seven with another Rambler ace off Borum's serve, 12-5. The Blue Demons cut the lead to two with back-to-back kills from Klemp and Scholz, 21-19. They'd get within two on two more occasions, but a Borum attack ended the set in favor of Loyola, 25-22.
 
Set Two: Loyola came alive early in the second, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. DeBlieck sparked a 4-0 run and was joined by Lovett and Ajanovic with kills that forced a DePaul timeout. The Ramblers held control until Pressly and Klemp put three straight on the board to tie the set, 15-15. Loyola had three straight errors, allowing DePaul to take an 18-16 lead late in the set. Loyola got within two twice, but momentum stayed in the Blue Demons' favor who held on take set two, 25-21.
 
Set Three: Unlike the first two sets, DePaul came out strong in the third with a 3-0 edge out of the gates. Pressly had a pair of kills. The Ramblers clawed back with three straight kills from Remmes, Cvitkovic, and Borum to swing the lead, 6-5. Loyola gained some more separation from DePaul at 12-9 with five unanswered points to force a DePaul timeout. Cvitkovic and Ajanovic registered kills, while DeBlieck had a pair of blocks in the stretch for the Ramblers. The Blue Demons couldn't find an answer as the Ramblers continued to streak with another 4-0 run, capped by Cvitkovic's kill to go up 22-16. DePaul made it interesting down the stretch, pulling within three, but Jae Fitting sealed the win on an ace, 25-20.
 
Set Four: The Ramblers continued to dominate right into set four as they took a 5-2 lead. Remmes sparked the run and would get two straight blocks before Lovett delivered a blow to force a DePaul timeout. Loyola pulled ahead by seven after a pair of Lovett kills sparked another 4-0 run. Pressly tallied a kill to break up the Rambler scoring, but she couldn't carry the Blue Demons any longer, as the Ramblers managed to lead by double-digits on an ace from Borum, 21-11. Fitting hit repeat from set three and claimed match point with her final ace of the night, 25-13.
 
Up Next
Atlantic 10 play opens next weekend. Loyola hosts Davidson Friday and Saturday. First serve is set for 6 pm and 2 pm, respectively.