CHICAGO -- No. 8 Loyola Chicago stormed back to defeat No. 13 Ohio State 3-1 after dropping the opening set at home on Sunday, March 1. The Ramblers improved to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play. 

Grad student Josh Schellinger paced Loyola's offense, finishing with 16 kills on .400 hitting while senior setter Ryan McElligott dished out 47 assists and a season-high six blocks. Senior libero JJ Sowa had the match-high seven digs and rookie Oskar Berg Mikkelsen had a career-high seven stuffs at the net.  

Coach Quote: Shane Davis
"This was a great win. I'm never going to downplay a win. Ohio State was tough today, they came out right away and knocked us down in that first set and blocked us off the court. I was happy with the way guys rebounded in set two. Our passing and serving were much better. Nothing was easy tonight, and it was great experience for us to be in those tight sets and come out on top as well as we did."

How It Happened
SET 1 | The Ramblers found themselves in an early hole, losing the first set 25-20. Loyola trailed by as many as nine points as Ohio State grabbed the advantage for good at 2-1 in a set that was tied up just once before the Buckeyes took control.

SET 2 | Loyola responded to pick up a 25-15 victory in the second set, evening the match at one set apiece. The Ramblers grabbed the set thanks to a strong showing on the attacking end, registering a .348 attack percentage with 11 kills in the set win. Loyola opened up a 24-13 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there. The Ramblers' offense got a boost from six aces in the stanza and the front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Buckeyes' attacks in the frame.

SET 3 | Loyola built on that second-set success with a victory in set three to open up a larger lead. The Ramblers survived a back-and-forth battle to win 26-24 in a set that featured five lead changes and 12 tied scores. Neither team had a lead of more than three points along the way.

SET 4 | The Ramblers closed out the match in extra points with a 27-25 fourth-set victory. A solid showing on the attacking side led the Ramblers to victory in the set, hitting .367 as a unit with 16 kills in the set win. After the lead changed hands two times late in the set, Loyola took control for good at 26-25. The Ramblers' defense stuffed four Buckeyes attempts. 

Inside the Box Score

• Redshirt sophomore Tyler Howard had the match and a career-high four aces.
• Loyola served up a team season-high 12 aces, notching six in the second set. 
• McElligott's 47 assists were a match and season high.

Up Next
Loyola continues its homestand with Ball State on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. before hosting Purdue Fort Wayne in the men's volleyball 30th anniversary match on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m.