EAST LANSING, Mich. – Women's volleyball stunned Western Kentucky in the first set of Saturday's match, but Loyola Chicago couldn't keep its momentum going, ultimately falling to the Hilltoppers, 3-1. The Ramblers sit at 2-3 overall heading into the final day of this weekend's action.
 
Avary DeBlieck led Loyola with nine kills, while Marta Cvitokic filled the box score with eight kills, seven aces, and 11 digs. She was one ace shy of matching her career-high.
 
"I thought Marta had a very good match and did a great job serving," said head coach Amanda Berkley. "She was able to get WKU out of system, and she also did a great job of attacking their defense. We need to be more consistent and have a better match offensively as we head into tomorrow's match with Michigan State."
 
Bree Borum had a team-high 29 assists, and Jae Fitting led the Ramblers with 18 digs.
 
How It Happened
Set One: WKU committed three attack errors to open the match and Cvitkovic delivered her first ace of the day to put the Ramblers up 4-0. Errors continued to plague the Hilltoppers as Loyola jumped ahead 10-3 with three more WKU faults. Despite WKU getting within three, Loyola went on a 10-0 tear, highlighted by three more Cvitkovic aces and two kills from Kate Maley. The Ramblers kept their 10-point edge, winning 25-15 with set point from Esma Ajanovic.
 
Set Two: The Hilltoppers responded in set two, jumping out to a 5-1 lead with four attack errors from the Ramblers. They quickly made it 9-2 with kills from Alivia Skidmore and Izzy Van De Wiele. Loyola chipped away and got within four on three occasions on kills from Cvitkovic and DeBlieck. It was the closest the Ramblers would get in the second set as WKU gained separation, scoring another four unanswered points to go up 17-9. Kaylee Cox clinched the set for the Hilltoppers with a kill, 25-16.
 
Set Three: Loyola and WKU went toe to toe in a set three that saw six lead changes and six ties. Loyola looked to make a run midway through the action after three straight Cvitkovic aces put the Ramblers up 14-11. Loyola couldn't shake the Hilltoppers who clawed back to yet again knot the match, 18-18. Cvitkovic kills held on to the lead twice down the stretch, while Skidmore's attack error set Loyola up for set point, 24-23. WKU held on and rallied for three straight points to win, 26-24.
 
Set Four: The Ramblers held two early leads to start the fourth set, but the Hilltoppers took control with an 11-2 run for an eight-point lead. Van De Wiele had three kills in the stretch. WKU blew it open to double-digits, scoring seven unanswered capped by a Cox ace. Loyola would tally one more point on a WKU attack error, but the Hilltoppers wrapped up the scoring efforts to win, 25-9.
 
Up Next
The weekend action wraps up tomorrow with Loyola vs. Michigan State. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT.