LEBANON, Ill. – No. 7 Loyola Chicago earned its first conference victory in a Friday night sweep at No. 13 McKendree on Feb. 6. The Ramblers controlled the match from start to finish, as middle blocker Aidan Klein led the team with a match-high 12 kills on .588 hitting. 

Coach Quote: Shane Davis
"It was a really mature performance by our group tonight. We served tough, stayed disciplined defensively and we executed in the big moments to finish strong. Getting our first conference win on the road against a team like McKendree team says a lot about the way this group competed and connected tonight."

How It Happened
SET 1 | Loyola established its presence early, jumping out to a 6-3 lead behind strong serving and efficient attacking. The Ramblers extended their advantage midway through the set with, the Bearcats trimmed the deficit late, but it wasn't enough. Loyola responded with back-to-back points to close out the opener, 25-18.

SET 2 | The second frame featured tighter exchanges, with the teams trading points through the first half. Loyola gained separation behind steady sideout play and decisive kills from its pins to take the second 25-21 and enter the third set with a 2-0 lead. 

SET 3 | Loyola left little doubt in the third. A dominant stretch from the service line sparked a 4-0 run to force a McKendree timeout. The Ramblers continued to apply pressure, hitting a whopping .478 in the frame to hold the Bearcats to limited scoring opportunities. Loyola closed the match on a 4-1 surge to seal the 25-16 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Rookie Oskar Berg Mikkelsen made his first collegiate start, recording one ace and two blocks in the match. 
• Klein matched his career-high 12 kills and recorded his third straight match with double-digit kills.

Up Next
The Ramblers return home to play host to the No. 11 Lewis Flyers on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. followed by the Rockhurst Hawks on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.