Women’s Volleyball Struggles in VCU Sweep

The Loyola women’s volleyball team took on Virginia Commonwealth University Friday, Oct. 18, with VCU securing the sweep over Loyola in three sets.

The Rams started the match off with the first point on a Loyola service block error. Third-year middle blocker Ella Ramsay responded with a kill for the Ramblers’ first point of the night.

The set stayed incredibly close, with both teams going back-and-forth and trading points before graduate outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic slammed two kills in a row, giving Loyola a 7-5 lead. 

A long rally included multiple digs and saves from both teams and ended with a combined block from Cvitkovic and Ramsay.

The Rams and Ramblers were even in the middle of the set. Eight consecutive kills came from both sides, trading back-and-forth between the teams before VCU drew ahead 13-12. 

Loyola went on a five-kill streak and brought the score to 20-19, in favor of the Ramblers, before VCU took the lead at 24-21 following multiple Loyola attack errors.

During match point, Loyola got one kill from fourth-year right side and opposite hitter Esma Ajanovic. The set ended 25-22 after a Loyola service error and VCU claimed the first set.

The second set started with a successful point review following a misjudged Ramsay kill which gave VCU an early three-point lead. 

After both teams found themselves tied at the seven and eight-point markers, the Ramblers inched ahead off the efforts from Cvitkovic. Cvitkovic recorded five kills and several blocks during the set. 

On the opposite side of the court, a Ram response was led by third-year opposite hitter Julia Rienks, who recorded six kills in the set. 

VCU came back after being down 21-18 and earned the last six points — taking the set 25-22. Though both Loyola and VCU had 13 kills in the second set, VCU benefited from the Ramblers’ nine attack errors. 

Loyola took the first point of set three with a kill by first-year outside hitter Kaitlyn Burke, but the Rams came right back with a Rienks kill. Her kills were a constant throughout the match, over the course of which she earned a 0.739 kill percentage. 

VCU called a timeout when Loyola started to creep closer after three good tips from fourth-year setter Bree Borum. After VCU earned three consecutive points from a block, ace and an out of bounds Loyola hit, putting them up 15-12. 

The Rams earned three more points and Loyola called another timeout, now down 19-15. 

VCU crept toward the finish line after three consecutive kills and came up on match point at 24-18. Though Ajanovic was able to give Loyola one final chance, the Rams recovered and finished the set with a striking shot from Rienks to complete the sweep.

Along with commending VCU’s strong right-side play, Berkley said nerves played a significant role in the team’s mentality.

“We’ve got to come out and make plays,” Berkley said. “The enjoyment of playing and the pressure is a privilege. We got a little nervous, especially at the end of the first two sets, and we’ve got to find a way to play with a little bit more looseness.”

The Rams scored points off of 43 kills, with Loyola recording 34. The game-defining statistic for Loyola was attacking errors, where they recorded a whopping 20 to VCU’s nine. 

The Ramblers will stick around at home before taking on George Mason University in Gentile Arena Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26. Both games can be streamed on ESPN+.