Women’s Volleyball Drops A10 Opener to Davidson

The Loyola women’s volleyball team entered match play Friday, Sept. 27, at 5-6 looking to break .500. They opened Atlantic 10 conference play against Davidson College, falling in four sets after losing a large lead in the final set.

Loyola started set one strong after bouncing back from an early 4-2 deficit. A four-point rally contributed to the push with kills from fourth-year outside hitter Olivia Lovett, fourth-year setter Bree Borum and graduate outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic. Davidson captured four of the next five points off two errors and two kills to make it 8-7 in their favor. 

The Ramblers and Wildcats went back-and-forth with respective two-point rallies until the score evened at 12 after a kill from fourth-year opposite hitter Esma Ajanovic. Davidson controlled another high-scoring 7-2 run with two service aces by their third-year libero Jordan Hummel helping give the Wildcats a 19-14 lead. 

Loyola earned two more points off Davidson errors, who responded with two kills, setting the score to 21-16. Second-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck inched the Ramblers closer with back-to-back kills, cutting the lead to three. After a Loyola error and a kill, Davidson put themselves on the cusp of set victory at 23-18.

The Ramblers launched a five-point rally off three Davidson errors and a kill from DeBlieck and third-year middle blocker Ann Marie Remmes. Despite tying it at 23, Davidson was able to put the set away with two straight kills for the 25-23 set victory.

The second set started hot with the two teams trading points for an early tie at three. Consecutive Rambler errors propelled a 3-0 Wildcat run, which Loyola quickly erased responding with an 8-2 rally off three kills from Cvitkovic, a kill from Remmes, an ace from Borum and three Davidson errors. Loyola gained an 11-7 lead over Davidson. 

Davidson clawed back into the set, scoring five of the next seven points. The two teams continued to battle, as kills from Remmes and Borum kept Loyola in front 16-14.

Three consecutive points off a kill and two Loyola errors gave Davidson a lead they maintained for the rest of the set. Despite Loyola tying the set at 17, 18 and 19, Davidson captured four of the next five off three kills and an ace. Back-to-back kills from Remmes weren’t enough, as two Rambler attack errors gave Davidson a 25-22 victory in set two. 

Set three began in Davidson’s favor as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead off three kills, an ace and an error. Loyola cut down the lead with a 4-1 run caused entirely by Davidson errors, making it 6-5 in favor of the Wildcats. 

The Ramblers erupted for a 6-1 rally stemming from three Davidson errors, followed by another Cvitkovic kill and two from Ajanovic for the 12-9 lead. 

Davidson was able to tie it at 13 before a 6-1 Rambler rally came from kills off of first-year outside hitter Kate Maley, Ajanovic, Borum and Remmes. Davidson drew closer with a four-point run after having fallen behind 1914.

Loyola went on to win five of the next six points from three Wildcat errors, an ace from second-year libero Jordan Bruckner and a Cvitkoivc kill. Despite back-to-back Davidson points, an Ajanovic kill gave the Ramblers their first set win of the match 25-21.

The Ramblers captured an early 4-2 lead to start the fourth set following three Davidson errors and a Maley kill. After two kills from Remmes, the Ramblers quickly took advantage with a 5-1 run after Borum scored a kill and two attack errors on the Wildcats. 

Davidson tacked on two points and Cvitkovic got a kill before Loyola went on a tear, winning seven of the next eight points from four errors, a kill by Ajanovic and another by Cvitkovic who also tallied an ace for the 17-7 advantage.

Things fell sharply downhill for Loyola as Davidson rallied for nine straight points. Loyola couldn’t stop the bleeding, despite two timeouts attempting to halt the run. Loyola finally got their first point, barely holding an 18-16 lead. 

Head coach Amanda Berkley spoke on Loyola’s inability to execute and stop Davidson’s nine-point rally after the game.

“I think they served really tough during that run and we did not pass well, we did not adjust, we did not find ways to side out,” Berkley said. “We even had a couple timeouts to try and fix our energy and fix our ability to pass the ball. We just didn’t execute and we were careless with the ball too, we found ways to hit it into the middle of the net when we need a score.”

The two teams dueled as key kills from Remmes and Borum kept the Ramblers in front until Davidson put together a 4-1 run off of three Loyola errors and grabbed the lead at 22-21. Loyola kept tying the Wildcats after each point with a Cvtkovic kill, an error and a kill from Remmes. The Ramblers had a chance tied at 24 to take a lead in the set, but a service error from Ajanovic  set Davidson up for the final kill, for a 26-24 set win and match victory.

Despite the loss, Remmes recorded her season-high in kills at 14 for the Ramblers. Berkley said her impact on the game was important to the team.

“Ann Marie does a great job of working hard,” Berkley said. “She’s always putting herself in a position to be up and available. She’s one of the best teammates, best positive energy and she’s someone who’s going to give her all on every single play.”

Loyola women’s volleyball will look to bounce back Sept. 28 in a rematch against Davidson as they search for their first win in conference play.