Ramblers Run Through Rams in Three Sets

Loyola women’s volleyball defeated Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in three sets Sept. 26. Loyola totaled 45 kills over the three sets. The Ramblers previously lost to the Rams Sept. 25 in five sets.

VCU scored the first point of the game with a block from third-year middle blocker Letizia Galli. The Rams followed up with an error, but a Ramblers error put VCU in the lead 2-1. 

After an attack error by VCU, Rams fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova tallied a kill. Second-year outside Leyna Nguyen had the first kill of the game for the Ramblers, tying the set at three.

Galli provided a block for the Rams before Boledovicova came through with a service ace, but third-year rightside Kate Maley countered with a kill. A VCU error was followed by another block from Galli, and the Ramblers tallied another error, leaving the game at 7-5 with Loyola down. 

The Ramblers followed a Rams third-year opposite and outside hitter Lara Del Core kill with two consecutive kills of their own, both by Maley. Del Core brought another point for VCU with a kill, followed by a Rambler block from Maley and third-year middle blocker Chloe Morgan.

Both teams swapped kills — including two attacks by second-year right side Katie Scherer and one from fourth-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck — until they both suffered service errors, bringing the Rams in the lead 13-12. 

Loyola brought the set to a tie at 13 with a service ace from Nguyen, which was followed by a kill from VCU first-year outside hitter Molly McCall. Third-year outside Claire Van Den Herik tallied two consecutive kills, and a media timeout was called with Loyola up 15-14.

Post-timeout, the set resumed with a VCU error and a kill by Del Core. The Ramblers put up two consecutive kills from Van Den Herik and Scherer, racking up the score to 18-15. 

After a kill from Rams first-year outside hitter Dominika Kasinska, Loyola held control of the action with kills by Scherer and Nguyen, followed by a Rams error and a solo block by DeBlieck before a VCU timeout was called.

The Ramblers let in two errors after the set resumed before calling a timeout at 21-19. After their own pause, they allowed another error before DeBlieck tabbed a kill, but the score stayed in favor of the Rams 22-20. 

VCU recorded an attack error before negating it with a kill from Kasinska, tightening the set to 23-21. The Ramblers erred twice but brought in two kills from De Blieck and Van Den Herik, winning the set 25-23.

VCU took the first two points of the second set with consecutive kills from Kasinska, followed by a kill from Scherer. The Rams followed their own attack error with another kill from Kasinska. Back-to-back kills from Scherer and DeBlieck put Loyola in the lead, but a Del Core kill brought the set to an even four. 

Del Core delivered a service ace but followed with a service error, tying with Loyola. The Ramblers reentered the fray after a VCU attack error, a kill by Nguyen and a block by Van Den Herik and DeBlieck, but the Rams stayed up 7-6.

Van Den Herik and Boledovicova tallied a kill each before Loyola and VCU swapped kills — DeBlieck, Maley and Van Den Herik — leaving the score at a 11-9 with Loyola in the lead.

Morgan and Nguyen blocked consecutive Rams attacks before Scherer recorded an attack error, but the point was negated with a kill. The Rams delivered a kill which Nguyen answered with one of her own. A block on Nguyen’s next hit by Boledovicova and Rams third-year setter Cansin Sendir shortened the 15-12 Rambler lead. 

A bad set by Rams third-year libero Meghan Touhey preceded a solo block by DeBlieck. Two consecutive kills by the Rams were mixed among an error and a service ace by Kasinska. A kill by Galli was followed by a Sendir service error, widening the Loyola lead 20-15.

A service error from third-year setter Mya Ball was offset by a kill from Van Den Herik. Del Core recorded a kill, the Ramblers erring then evening out with a kill by Morgan. 

Del Core, Scherer and Boledovicova all tallied kills before Nguyen faulted on the attack, then regaining her footing and spiking a kill. DeBlieck brought the second set to a 25-21 Ramblers win with a kill.  

The Rams featured heavily in the beginning of the third set with three kills from Kasinska, Del Core and Boledovicova. An attack error by Del Core and a block by Morgan and Scherer, followed by another kill from Boledovicova, brought the Rams to a 3-2 lead. 

Kasinska and Scherer traded kills before DeBlieck’s solo block brought the Ramblers up 5-4. 

Two consecutive kills by Nguyen were followed by one error from each team. The Ramblers let four points go with two attack errors and two kills from the Rams before two consecutive kills by Maley and a block by Morgan and Maley widened the 11-9 Rambler lead.  

Third-year libero Sam Falk missed her serve before a kill by Van Den Herik was sandwiched by a Ball service error. Del Core stabbed a kill before back-to-back blocks by Morgan, Nguyen and Scherer brought the score 15-12 before a media timeout.

The Ramblers came back strong from the timeout with two consecutive kills by Morgan and a block by Morgan and Scherer. VCU brought two consecutive kills by Del Core and Boledovivoca before Loyola countered with the same from Scherer and Nguyen, bringing the Loyola lead 20-14.

Sendir delivered a kill which was followed by a DeBlieck kill. A service ace by fourth-year setter Emma Henry was followed by two kills for the Rams, then two consecutive kills by Nguyen. With a service ace, Nguyen brought the Ramblers home to win the set 25-17.

Head Coach Amanda Berkley said she liked the changes she saw from the team’s previous game against VCU. 

“I thought they were very competitive at every single point,” Berkley said. “They were locked in the whole time. That’s something we’ve got to continue to do.”

Van Den Herik, who delivered eight kills for the Ramblers, said she knew something had to change from the previous night. 

“I knew I had to turn it around,” Van Den Herik said. “Being that person that goes out on the court and gets the consistent kills, and not just in the first set, but in the second set and the third set as well. I think everyone did a really good job. Even if we made one error, we shook it off.”

The Ramblers continue conference play in Gentile Arena against Saint Louis University Sept. 29. The first serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the match is available to stream on ESPN+.