CHICAGO – In front of a loud crowd inside Gentile Arena, No. 7 Loyola Chicago fell in four sets, 3-1, to No. 15 Lewis on Thursday, Feb. 27. The Ramblers are now 13-2 overall and 5-2 in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play.  

"I think our first challenge was to start our side out, we're passing decently, but our second to third contact was a pretty big struggle for the first two sets of the match. We couldn't get any sort of rhythm and had connecting issues," said head coach Shane Davis. "We overcame that with the setter change, but then we created another obstacle with Lewis gaining a lot of momentum after those first two sets."  

How It Happened 
Set One: Loyola started the match with an early kill from Nicodemus Meyer, but Lewis quickly established control on a 4-0 scoring run. The Flyers' presence at the net made an immediate impact, with multiple rejections slowing down the Ramblers' attack. Loyola battled back within one point, 11-10, after kills from Meyer and Daniel Fabikovic, but Lewis extended its lead with key kills from Max Roquet and an ace. Despite late resistance from Loyola, a kill from Frederick Beer Krueger secured the first set for Lewis, 25-20. 

Set Two: The Ramblers opened the second set with another quick kill from Meyer, and both sides traded points early, with Loyola taking a narrow 7-6 lead. A service ace from Ryan McElligott helped the Ramblers build a 15-12 advantage, but Lewis responded with a 5-0 run, capitalizing on a kill and an ace from Daniel Haber to take a 20-16 lead. Loyola attempted a late rally behind Parker Van Buren, but an attack error sealed the set in favor of the Flyers, 25-21. 

Set Three: With their backs against the wall, the Ramblers came out strong in the third set, using a 4-0 run led by Van Buren and Meyer to take a 10-7 lead. Lewis stayed within striking distance, tying the set at 15-15. The teams traded points down the stretch once again, but Loyola edged ahead with a clutch kill from Fabikovic to take the third set, 25-23, and force a fourth frame.  

Set Four: Loyola initially controlled the fourth set, as Van Buren and Fabikovic powered the Ramblers to a 10-6 lead. However, Lewis closed the gap on another 5-0 run, fueled by decisive kills and two aces from Haber. The Flyers maintained control, with Roquet adding key points, and a final kill from Oguzhan Oguz secured the final set, 20-25. 

Inside the Box Score

• Van Buren led the match with 21 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double while Fabikovic recorded 15 kills, six digs and an ace.  
• Setters Ryan McElligott and Alex Smits Van Oyen combined for 43 assists.  
• The Flyers out blocked the Ramblers 12.5 to six and Lewis also hit .347 while holding Loyola to .219. 

Up Next 
The Ramblers hit the road for their next two MIVA matches at Ball State on Friday, March 7 at 6 p.m. followed by Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m.