Ramblers Rammed in Five Sets By VCU

Loyola women’s volleyball was defeated by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in five sets Sept. 15 in the first game of Atlantic 10 conference play. Despite the loss, second-year rightside Katie Scherer led the Ramblers with 14 kills while Rams fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova held down the VCU offense with 17 kills. 

The first set commenced with a 9-1 run for the Ramblers consisting of kills from third-year outside Claire Van Den Herik, second-year outside Leyna Nguyen and Scherer as well as two solo blocks from third-year middle blocker Chloe Morgan. The Rams lone point came from a setter dump by third-year setter Cansin Sendir. 

The Rams third-year middle blocker Letizia Galli added two consecutive kills, followed by a kill from third-year rightside Lara Del Core. Nguyen answered with back-to-back kills which Del Core negated with two kills for the Rams. A solo block from Loyola’s third-year rightside Kate Maley strengthened the Ramblers’ lead, 15-5. 

The Rams’ first-year outside Dominika Kasinska and Boledovicova exchanged kills with fourth-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck. Nguyen, Morgan and Van Den Herik added a kill each. Even with attack errors from Loyola, Scherer and DeBlieck tallied kills to give the Ramblers set point. A kill from DeBlieck closed out the first set 25-15. 

The second set started off back-and-forth with VCU negating their own points with errors. The Rams’ first-year outside Molly McCall, Del Core, Boledovicova and Kasinska all added a kill, but their errors, along with a solo block from Van Den Herik, tied the second set at six.

Boledovicova and Cansin swapped kills with Van Den Herik and Scherer. Nguyen tallied a kill followed by a block from DeBlieck and Scherer that was met with kills from Kasinska and Del Core. Kills from the Rams’ fourth-year middle blocker Akire Jones, Del Core and Kasinska with a solo block from Boledovicova forced a Loyola timeout, down 19-11. 

Despite three kills from Van Den Herik, kills from Kasinska and Boledovicova, along with a block from Cansin and Galli, gave the Rams a set point. A block from Galli and McCall ended the second set for the Rams with a score of 25-17. 

The third set began with a kill and solo block from Scherer. Galli and Del Core got the Rams offense started with a kill each before Morgan tallied a kill negated by an overpass kill from Boledovicova. Boledovicova and Scherer proceeded to exchange two kills each, but a kill from Nguyen and a solo block from Van Den Herik tied the set at eight.

Boledovicova and McCall added a kill each prior to a block by Galli and Cansin. McCall and Van Sen Herik swapped kills, but consecutive kills from Kasinska forced a Loyola timeout, down 17-10. 

Galli, Kasinska and Del Core kept the offense hot, adding a kill each. Nguyen answered with a kill for Loyola, but it was met with a tip over the block by Del Core. DeBlieck added two kills, but a kill from Kasinska and Rambler errors gave VCU a set point. A kill by Boledovicova forced a fourth set, 25-15. 

Two service aces from Cansin and a kill from McCall got the fourth set started. Morgan countered with an overpass kill which was negated by back-to-back kills from Del Core. Nguyen and DeBlieck added a kill each, but the Ramblers still trailed 6-4. 

Kasinska and Del Core swapped kills with DeBlieck and Maley. Despite two consecutive kills from Boledovicova, Nguyen added a kill, followed by three service aces from third-year libero Sam Falk. McCall and Maley traded kills to tie the set at 12. 

The Ramblers’ first-year outside Tenley Davis added her first kill prior to consecutive service aces from third-year setter Mya Ball. Scherer and McCall exchanged kills before Del Core added a kill and Cansin secured a service ace. Kills from Scherer and Morgan forced a VCU timeout, down 19-16. 

Scherer added a solo block, followed by three VCU errors, giving Loyola a set point. Even with a kill from McCall, a block from Morgan and Nguyen gave the Ramblers the fourth set, 25-17.

The fifth set started with a 5-2 run for the Rams consisting of a block by Galli and Kasinska and kills from Boledovicova and Del Core. DeBlieck and Nguyen swapped kills with Boledovicova and, despite a kill from Kasinska, Maley and Van Den Herik tallied a kill each to tie the set at seven.

Back-to-back VCU blocks from Del Core and Galli forced a Loyola timeout. Van Den Herik added a kill that was met with a kill from Boledovicova. A kill from Scherer and a block from Nguyen and Morgan tied the set at 12. 

Two Boledovicova kills and a VCU error gave the Rams set point. A Rambler error ended the match with a final score of 15-13. 

Head Coach Amanda Berkley said the team needs to be reliable throughout the entire match.

“We have got to figure out how to keep that momentum and consistency in the first set throughout the whole match,” Berkeley said. “We do need to win three sets to win a match.”

The Ramblers continue conference play with a road trip to Kingston, R.I. to face off against Rhode Island University Oct. 3. The match is set to start at 6 p.m.