Women’s Volleyball Keeps Streak Alive Against Saint Louis

The Loyola women’s volleyball team gained their 10th consecutive win against Saint Louis University Oct. 24, ending the sweep with a close third set. 

The Ramblers opened the match losing the first two points to a spike by the Billikens fourth-year right side Delaney Rice and a dig by fourth-year defensive specialist Carlie Rodgers.

Loyola tied the set with a kill by graduate middle blocker Taylor Venuto and another kill down the line by graduate outside hitter Addie Barnes. Saint Louis regained a 3-2 lead due to a cross court kill by second-year outside and right side hitter Kayla Richardson. 

Loyola gained a two point lead when Barnes made a kill and fourth-year libero Grace Hinchman made an ace after various attempts to save the ball by SLU.

After an early Saint Louis timeout, Loyola built on their 7-3 lead after a net violation by fourth-year middle blocker Jillian Mattingly. 

A few points later, the Ramblers were up 13-4 after an ace by fourth-year right side hitter Emily Banitt. Richardson made a kill for the Billikens which was short-lived after Rodgers made a net error resulting in a Loyola point. 

Loyola started with an eight point advantage against Saint Louis but were now leading by only five points. After an ace by the Billikens’ Rodgers, the Ramblers called their first time out. 

The point after SLU’s Richardson spike outside the court was ruled a touch by Loyola, ultimately being challenged by head coach Amanda Berkley. The point was given to the Ramblers after the refs ruled Banitt didn’t touch the ball. 

Barnes and Banitt both made kills for Loyola, resulting in the score of 21-13. The Billikens kept fighting with a block credited to Mattingly and Richardson until Loyola’s fourth-year middle blocker and right side hitter Anna Feldkamp made her first kill of the night. 

Loyola earned another point from a kill to the net by Saint Louis’ fourth-year outside hitter Emily Henken, bringing it to match point. Borum dumped the ball down and won the set for the Ramblers 25-15. 

The second set started with Saint Louis second-year setter Addie Lyon serving and Loyola’s fourth-year outside hitter Karlie McNabb spiking the ball out of bounds, giving the first point to Saint Louis. The point was overturned after review due to a touch by Billiken’s first-year middle blocker Trinity Luckett. Rice gained the point back for Saint Louis immediately with a kill. 

The Ramblers tied it at five when Berkley challenged a ball the team believed Mattingly spiked out. 

The score was tied again at 11 before the Ramblers retook the lead on a block by Banitt. The Billikens fought back with a block by Luckett. Banitt came to the rescue and won a point for Loyola with a kill. Saint Louis’ Richardson mirrored Banitt’s actions with a kill, tying the score at 13.

The points continued back and forth until a kill by Barnes, a block by Feldkamp and a fight at the net won by Borum gave the Ramblers a three point lead. Saint Louis began to shrink the lead after two attack errors by McNabb and Barnes. 

Saint Louis kept tailing Loyola until a net violation by Luckett and Rice made the score 23-19. McNabb and Venuto blocked a spike by Saint Louis’ Lyon resulting in match point for Loyola. The set was won by the Ramblers with an attack error by Lyon. 

The third and final set started with a service error by Loyola’s Borum and a spike off the block of Venuto by Rice, which gave Saint Louis a head start by two points. Loyola quickly regained a point due to a service error by Saint Louis’ Henken. The point was regained by the Billikens with a service error by the Ramblers’ McNabb. 

Saint Louis continued to lead the set until the Ramblers tied the score at six. Loyola broke the tie when Saint Louis’ Mattingly hit the ball out of bounds. Loyola won another point credited to a block from Borum and Feldkamp.

Saint Louis’ Richardson brought back hope for the Billikens with a kill and then tied the score at 17 after a few points. Before a timeout by the Ramblers, Loyola regained the lead with a kill by Venuto. Feldkamp and Banitt made two other kills for the Ramblers giving them a three point lead after the time out. 

After some stressful rallies, the Ramblers lead only by one point until McNabb killed the ball crosscourt, the score now 23-21. Lyon made a point for the Billikens by fighting at the net with McNabb and another one when serving due to a mixup by Barnes and McNabb tying the score at 23.  

Borum delivered a set and match victory to the Ramblers with two plays, a second touch down the middle of the court and an ace. 

Berkley said overall she was proud of how the team played due to the fact that Saint Louis is a good team and said her team fought really hard to attain this victory.

“I was proud of the team tonight. I think they managed a very tough serving team very well,” she said. “I think that it was a really good overall team win, just proud of the team for competing at a high level against a pretty good team.”

After a close set, Borum said the reason she stays with her head in the game is because of her teammates.

“They do a really good job at keeping us all calm and collected whether it’s what we say in the huddle or just like ever and like taking a deep breath,” Borum said. “They really just help us clear and focus on the match point and not what is behind us.” 

The Loyola women’s volleyball team will continue their stretch of A-10 play in The Bronx, New York against Fordham University Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. Broadcast information has yet to be announced.

Featured image by D’Niya Little-Segers | The Phoenix