Women’s volleyball bounced back from their Sept. 27 loss against Davidson College to sweep the Wildcats and secure their first conference win.
Women’s volleyball bounced back from their Sept. 27 loss against Davidson College to sweep the Wildcats and secure their first conference win.
Loyola women’s volleyball captured a sweep against Davidson College Sept. 28th in Gentile Arena. The result came after Davidson took down the Ramblers three sets to one the previous night.
The Ramblers came out slow in the first set with Davidson scoring the first four points. Loyola called a timeout to recover, and quickly started to claw back. Midway through the set, Loyola went on a five-point scoring run — which included three kills from first-year outside hitter Kate Maley — to bring the score to 8-7.
Graduate outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic delivered an ace before Loyola was able to gain a four point lead. Subsequent Davidson errors including a net violation, gave the Ramblers the opportunity to secure the first set 25-21.
The second set started with both teams battling to get ahead and featured scrappy defense on both sides. Davidson took a four point lead after Loyola committed two hitting errors and a net violation. The Ramblers were then able to gain a point back after official confirmation on a challenge regarding a no touch play.
Midway through the second set, Loyola notched four kills in a row, two of which were scored by second-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck. The Ramblers challenged another touch but were unsuccessful and the point stayed with Davidson with the score at 16-13, in favor of Loyola.
Loyola began to pull away after first-year libero Sam Falk pancaked a ball for a massive defensive effort, prompting a Davidson timeout. The Ramblers then went on a three-point run, which included kills from Maley and third-year middle blocker Ann Marie Remmes as well as an ace from first-year defensive specialist Jae Fitting.
After a Davidson timeout, they were able to catch up within two points of the Ramblers due to back-to-back kills. The battle for the set extended past the initial 25 point limit, but the Ramblers were able to snatch the 29-27 win.
Loyola, now up two sets, was 25 points away from the sweep. Initially the set was an even fight, with both teams taking the lead at various points. However, Davidson was forced to make an injury substitution and Loyola began to take control, capturing a 15-8 lead. The Ramblers racked up five aces, two of which were back-to-back aces by fourth-year setter Bree Borum.
Davidson took a timeout when they were down by eight, but was never able to take the lead back. Loyola secured the sweep after Deblieck iced the set with a kill for the 25-13 win.
Head coach Amanda Berkley gave her thoughts after the game about how she felt the team performed.
“I’m proud of the team for bouncing back after last night’s match,” Berkley said. “I am proud of the team for finding ways to get more kills against a very scrappy Davidson team.”
Cvitkovic said the strong serving from Loyola — which included 11 aces — served as a major momentum booster. The Ramblers ended with 45 kills, hitting .271. They were big at the net racking up five blocks. Falk and Borum lead the team in digs with a combined total of 31.
Berkley described the changes made between the first and second matches against the Wildcats in order for them to secure the win after following a loss the previous night..
“We started Kate [Maley] on the outside and I think she had a very good match,” Berkley said. “That’s something I challenged her on was to swing out of system and find a way to get kills.”
The Ramblers stay home for their next match against Saint Louis University Tuesday, Oct. 1 at
6 p.m. in Gentile Arena.
Get the Loyola Phoenix newsletter straight to your inbox!
