Women’s Volleyball Secures a Sweep Over Patriots

The Ramblers secured a sweep against George Mason University Oct. 25 in Gentile Arena, improving their record to 10-11. The win after a tough previous weekend where the Ramblers dropped two games against Virginia Commonwealth University.

The first set started off with the Ramblers and Patriots fighting to gain a lead in back-and-forth play. After back-to-back kills by graduate outside hitter Marta Cvitkovic and fourth-year pin hitter Esma Ajanovic, the Ramblers took an 8-5 lead. . 

Ajanovic earned consecutive points with a kill and a block, leading the Patriots to take a timeout down 11-6. The first set contained scrappy defense by first-year libero Sam Falk and fourth-year setter Bree Borum, who allowed Loyola to maintain their lead.

The Ramblers then earned three consecutive points with kills by Ajanovic and third-year middle hitter Ann Marie Remmes bringing the score to 13-7. George Mason made various errors and Cvitkovic scored back-to-back kills which brought the score to 17-12. 

After a second Patriot timeout, Cvitkovic helped the Ramblers close out the set with three more kills, giving Loyola a 25-17 set one victory.. 

The second set started off similar to the first, with both teams engaging in long rallies, scrappy defense and trick plays. The back-and-forth action was eventually slowed when a kill by fourth-year outside hitter Olivia Lovett was challenged by George Mason. The Patriots lost the challenge and the point stayed with Loyola, putting the Ramblers down 8-7.

Following consecutive kills by Remmes, Borum and Lovett the Ramblers regained a 10-9 lead. Borum continued to make an impact in the set with trick plays to tie it at 14 apiece. After several Patriot errors and kills by Ajanovic and Remmes, the Ramblers took a 20-15 lead. 

The second set came to a close on a block by Borum, giving Loyola the second set with the final score of 25-20. 

The Ramblers had all of the momentum going into the third set, going on a four-point run early in the set with kills by Remmes and Cvitkovic. The two also collaborated for a block to put the Ramblers up 5-1. 

Cvitkovic and Ajanovic had back-to-back kills leading to the Patriot’s first timeout of the set. Loyola went on to run away with the set through scrappy defensive plays by Falk, setter dumps by Borum to the back corner and kills by Remmes and second-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck. The Patriots took their second timeout down 15-9. 

Coming out of the timeout, Loyola went on a 10-point-run including three kills by Cvitkovic, two kills by first-year outside hitter Kaitlyn Burke and a solo block by Remmes. The set ended on a kill from Burke, 25-9. 

The Ramblers finished with a hitting percentage of .417 and 48 total kills. They also tallied 11 total blocks. 

Head coach Amanda Berkley said she was proud of her team for this win after last week’s games against VCU. She said the team had a tough week at practice and were challenged quite a bit and the coaching staff is proud of the team for using the tough practices and implementing what was worked on. 

“I will give her props, because one thing I said to the team after the match is, I think Remy [Remmes]  really worked very hard,” Berkley said. “She got the most blocks, because I think she works the hardest. She really works to close the block, be disciplined, and she doesn’t take any plays off.”

Remmes ended the match with 10 kills and eight blocks which is her season high. The balanced offense is something the Ramblers strive to have, according to Berkley. Having the middles, Remmes and DeBlieck, available to run a fast offense is essential for the Ramblers. Berkley said they both work very hard to be available as an offensive option every play. 

Next, the Ramblers take on Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. and Nov. 2 at 12 p.m.