Ladyjacks Chop Down Ramblers in Four Sets 

Loyola women’s volleyball was defeated by Stephen F. Austin University (SFA) in four sets Sept. 3. Second-year right side Katie Scherer led the Ramblers with 13 kills while fourth-year outside hitter Caroline Kahle dominated for the Ladyjacks with 14 kills. 

The first set commenced with a kill from Ramblers’ third-year outside Claire Van Den Herik, followed by a service ace from third-year setter Mya Ball. Loyola’s third-year middle blocker Mallory Bohl and second-year outside Leyna Nguyen made it on the scoring sheet, tallying a kill each. Despite a Rambler error and a kill from the Ladyjack’s fourth-year middle blocker Kyanna Creecy, the Ramblers took an early 4-2 lead.

Bohl and Scherer each traded a kill with first-year outside hitter Avery Koonsen. Two Rambler errors and a kill from Kahle tied the set at six apiece. Kahle’s kill wasn’t enough to combat two Ladyjack errors and a service ace from third-year libero Sam Falk. 

The Ladyjacks first-year defensive specialist Erin Goodson’s first kill was followed by an ace from Kahle. Koonsen and Bohl traded two kills each, followed by Scherer and Bohl blocking a hit from SFA’s first-year setter Aniston Collins. Another Nguyen kill followed by a Ladyjack error put the Ramblers up 15-12. 

When Koonsen tallied a kill, Creecy and third-year right side Molly Cravens followed with a block before second-year outside hitter Brinkley Reeves recorded a service ace to amp up the Ladyjacks offense. Nguyen battled back with a kill and an ace to tie the set at 18.

Cravens scored a kill followed by a solo block from third-year middle blocker Jordan Henderson and a service ace by graduate setter Madi Zorn. Van Den Herik and Henderson traded kills before a service ace from Kahle gave the Ladyjacks a 22-20 lead.

Back-to-back errors from the Ladyjacks put the Ramblers back in the game. Zorn’s kill was followed by a service ace from fourth-year defensive specialist Cambry Saul to give SFA set point. The Ramblers fought back with a kill from Van Den Herik and a block by Bohl and Nguyen, tying the set at 24.

A Loyola attack error gave the Ladyjacks another set point, but Scherer continued the set with a kill. A kill from Nguyen tied the set at 26. Kahle tabbed a kill to make it the fifth set point, and a Loyola attack error closed out the first set 28-26. 

The second set started with a 4-1 run in favor of the Ladyjacks, consisting of a kill from third-year outside Katherine Holtman, a block by Holtman and Henderson and various Rambler errors. Bohl’s kill was met with a kill from Koonsen. Consecutive kills from Scherer put the Ramblers down 5-4.

Scherer and Van Den Herik added kills, followed by a service ace from Nguyen. Fourth-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck caught her first kill of the night. Two service aces from Ball and a kill by Bohl prompted an SFA timeout, down 14-11. 

After Henderson and Koonsen exchanged kills with Scherer and Bohl, Holtman added a kill while Creecy and Koonsen then secured a block. A Bohl service ace was followed by service errors from both sides. Creecy tallied a kill which prompted a 3-0 run for the Ramblers — Nguyen, Van Den Herik and DeBlieck each tallying a kill — givingLoyola the lead 22-17.

Kahle fired back with a kill which DeBlieck met with one of her own. Another Kahle kill was combated with a Bohl kill, giving the Ramblers set point. An SFA attack error closed out the second set with a 25-21 Loyola victory. 

A 6-1 run for the Ladyjacks kicked off the third set including kills from Koonsen, Henderson and Holtman. Creecy and Bohl swapped kills, but it wasn’t enough to stop a 3-0 run with kills from Cravens, Kahle and Henderson, giving the Ladyjacks a 10-3 lead. 

Nguyen and Bohl added a kill each before Rambler attack errors piled up and Kahle added another kill. Van Den Herik added a kill while DeBlieck and Scherer gained a block. Koonsen tallied a kill and with errors from both sides, staying up 15-10. 

Scherer and Nguyen exchanged kills with Creecy and Kahle. Bohl and Nguyen added consecutive kills before Kahle and Van Den Herik traded points. Back-to-back Rambler errors prompted a Loyola timeout, down 20-15.

Van Den Herik and DeBlieck came out firing with a kill each, but a service ace from Goodson and a kill from Koonsen gave SFA set point. Scherer and DeBlieck kept the set alive with a block before Falk secured a service ace. A kill each from Nguyen and Scherer gave the Ramblers a chance, but a Loyola attack error closed out the third set with a score of 25-22.   

Van Den Herik’s kill started out the fourth set and was followed by a Ball service ace before Holtman met with a kill while Kahle added a service ace. Scherer and Holtman swapped kills before Creecy and Holtman added a block to put the Ladyjacks on top, 7-4. 

Holtman and Scherer each added a kill to the board. Bohl tabbed a solo block and a kill, which Kahle met with a kill for SFA. Ball’s service ace was negated with a kill from Henderson. DeBlieck and Scherer traded kills with Holtman and Creecy before Holtman tabbed a service ace. A Rambler attack error gave the Ladyjacks a 19-12 advantage. 

Scherer and Nguyen grabbed a kill each, but two Cravens kills kept the SFA lead. Khale’s kill was met with another from Scherer before a Kahle kill and Loyola attack error gave SFA match point. Kahle secured a service ace to close out the set 18-25 and the match three sets to one. 

Head coach Amanda Berkley gave due credit to SFA,commending their defense,ability to keep the ball in play and their shot selection. 

“SFA is an extremely well-coached team,” Berkeley said. “Their pins found a way to score using a lot of different shots. They did a great job of mixing up their shots and keeping the ball in play.”

The Ramblers take on Southeast Missouri State at the Loyola Invitational Sept. 10 at 7:00 p.m. in Gentile Arena. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.