Women’s Volleyball Falls to VCU in Five Sets

The Loyola women’s volleyball lost for the second day in a row to Virginia Commonwealth University Oct. 19 in a match which went five sets, with VCU coming out victorious 3-2.

The Ramblers started off strong with four straight points, three from third-year middle blocker Ann Marie Remmes and one from second-year middle back Avary DeBlieck. VCU responded with two points from a service error and kill.

Loyola bounced back and gained eight consecutive points, with aces from fourth-year setter Bree Borum and kills from Deblieck, graduate outside hitter Marta Cvitokoric and fourth-year Esma Ajanovic, bringing the score to 12-2.

After back-and-forth scoring, Loyola called its first timeout ahead 14-7. The teams continued to battle, with the Ramblers able to stay ahead recording two more three-point runs. Cvitokoric had two aces to set up points which came on VCU service errors, allowing Loyola to take set one 25-13.

The Rams started the second set hot, forcing a tough battle right from the start. The Ramblers were stuck a point down until Cvitkovic’s kill and a VCU attack error put them back on top 11-10.

The Rams scored four unanswered points to bring it to 15-12. Loyola attempted to fight back, tying multiple times, but fell to the Rams 25-22.

The Ramblers were able to replicate their first set success in the third as kills from Ajanovic and Remes spurred a 5-0 start. After VCU managed a kill, the Ramblers went on a four point run. 

The Ramblers continued their hot hands with a 5-2 run to pad their 13-2 lead. The teams traded points during the rest of the set, but VCU was unable to catch up, resulting in another Loyola set win with a score of 25-14.

The Rams jump started their match-winning comeback in the fourth set, getting straight into a 7-1 lead. The Ramblers were able to catch up at eight points apiece with kills from Cvitkovic, fourth-year outside hitter Olivia Lovett and blocks by Ajanovic and DeBlieck.

Loyola tied the set three times before a VCU kill gave the Rams a 15-11 advantage. Kills from Ajanovic, Borum and Remmes got the Ramblers back within one. A kill from third-year middle blocker Ella Ramsay tied it at 22, but the Rams eked out three points for the 25-23 win. 

The fifth set started off strong with kills by Cvitkovic and Ajanovic for an early 3-1 Loyola lead. VCU came back and tied 6-6, starting a dogfight for the lead. 

Loyola’s final point of the night was a kill from Cvitkovic to tie the set at nine.. The Rams went on to score six consecutive points, winning the tie-breaking set 15-9.

Despite the final result, head coach Amanda Berkley said the game was a much better outcome than their previous match against VCU the night before.

“We served really well and we’re very aggressive,” Berkley said. “If you look at a lot of the stats, we led in every category. We had more points, blocks, kills, assists, aces, and digs. We just need to make plays when it counts at the end of sets and when the pressure is on.”

The Ramblers return to Gentile Arena for their next matchup against George Mason University Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.