CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Loyola Chicago swept Queens for the second straight match Saturday afternoon. The Ramblers were led by Parker Van Buren who posted 12 kills and eight digs. Loyola improves to 21-2 overall and 12-2 in MIVA action.
 
"It's nice to come away with another series sweep," said head coach Shane Davis. "We executed our game plan, and despite some runs by Queens, we were able to regroup at timeouts and find a way to stay in control. It's great momentum to take into the final week of the regular season."
 
How It Happened
Set One: The Ramblers jumped ahead early, 4-0. Daniel Fabikovic sparked the run with a kill, and he'd tally another a few points later to put Loyola up, 7-4. Three straight errors by Queens helped the Rambler to a five-point lead, 13-8. Loyola kept rolling, using another run of five consecutive points to pull away by 10, 23-13. Jake Read tallied the first kill, while Ryan McElligott and Van Buren got in on the action. McElligott and Van Buren also had final say with back-to-back kills to clinch the set, 25-14.
 
Set Two: Loyola's momentum carried into the second set with Read, Van Buren, Brad Bell, and Fabikovic all registering early kills for a 5-3 lead. Midway through, the Ramblers strung together a 3-0 run that saw two more Van Buren blows to go up, 15-8. The Ramblers jumped ahead by nine down the stretch with four unanswered points capped by a Fabikovic ace, 20-11. Queens would get two more on the board before Loyola scored the final three. Read's kill would take the set, 25-13.
 
Set Three: Loyola opened the third on a tear, scoring eight of the first 10 points. McElligott had kills to start and stop the run as the Ramblers led, 8-2. Queens stayed in the mix with five of the next six points. Strawbridge had two kills and an ace to keep the Royals within two, 9-7. It didn't take long for the Ramblers to cushion the lead again. A McElligott and Aidan Klein block assist put the Ramblers up six, while Nicodemus Meyer's kill pushed it to seven, 17-10. Queens got back within four on four occasions down the stretch, but Loyola locked in, scoring the final three points. Klein's ace went down as match point, 25-18.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Loyola hit .521, marking their fourth match this season above .500.
• Van Buren was at .458 with 12 kills, Fabikovic at .500 with nine kills, and Read at .700 with seven kills.
• McElligott tallied a match-high 31 assists. He added six digs, two blocks, and four kills.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers continue play on the road at Lewis on April 10 at 7 p.m. CT.