Ramblers tame Dukes in three sets

Loyola women’s volleyball defeated Duquesne University in a three set sweep Oct. 10. Second-year rightside Katie Scherer led the Ramblers, tallying 13 kills, while the Dukes’ first-year outside Londyn Stone raced ahead with 12 kills. 

Dukes fourth-year middle blocker Jordan Robertson started the first set with a block, but it was immediately met with a kill from Scherer. Dukes first-year middle blocker Maddie Bush added a kill, and third-year middle blocker Chloe Morgan and Scherer combatted with a block. 

Duquesne’s third-year outside Emersen Schrom added a kill prior to a 4-0 run for the Ramblers, including kills from second-year outside Leyna Nguyen and Scherer. Robertson added a kill that Nguyen met with a service ace. Stone, fourth-year middle blocker Avary DeBlieck and third-year outside hitter Claire Van Den Herik exchanged kills, making it 10-6. 

Scherer tallied a kill and third-year setter Mya Ball added a service ace. Stone met with two kills for the Dukes, but Van Den Herik and DeBlieck combatted with a kill each. First-year rightside Simone Searles and Scherer swapped kills before Maley and Nguyen each added a kill, giving the Ramblers a lead, 20-12. 

Roberston added a kill and a block which Maley met with a kill for the Ramblers. Stone tallied a kill which was negated with a kill by Scherer, and errors from both sides gave the Ramblers set point. A bad set by Wilmot closed out the first set for the Ramblers 25-20. 

Van Den Herik started the second set with a kill, which was met with a kill by Robertson. Bush and Wilmot added a block before the Ramblers went on a 6-1 run consisting of a service ace by Morgan and various Duquesne errors, making the score 7-4. 

Stone and Robertson traded kills with Van Den Herik, Maley, Morgan and Scherer. Schrom and Morgan exchanged a kill each before Stone added a kill and Robertson secured a service ace. Nguyen tabbed a kill which was negated by a kill from Schrom, tying the set at 14. 

The Ramblers proceeded to go on a 7-0 run, including kills from Maley, Nguyen and Scherer, as well as a service ace from fourth-year setter Emma Henry. Searles added two kills to Maley’s one, and a Dukes error gave Loyola a set point. Despite a kill from Robertson, Maley closed out the second set, 25-18.

Ball started the third set with a service ace, which was met by kills from Searles and Schrom. Scherer added two kills which were met with a block by Searles and Bush and a Searles kill. Robertson and Scherer exchanged kills before Searles and Robertson added kills, making the score 8-7. 

The Ramblers went on a 8-1 run consisting of kills from Van Den Herik, Maley and Morgan, along with two service aces from Ball. Stone and Morgan traded kills and third-year defensive specialist Jae Fitting followed with a service ace, putting the Ramblers ahead, 18-10. 

Stone and Searles added kills, and Dukes first-year setter Keely McMahon-Regan contributed a service ace. DeBlieck and Scherer tallied a block, but Stone met it with two consecutive kills before Robertson added a solo block. Maley and Stone exchanged kills, making the score 21-19. 

DeBlieck tallied a kill, but Bush combatted with a kill and a block with Schrom. A kill from Morgan and Scherer gave the Ramblers match point. Stone tried to hold on with a kill, but Scherer closed out the set with a kill and a final score of 25-23. 

Head Coach Amanda Berkley was proud of the pressure they put on Duquesne and commended the performance of the team. 

“Our serving today was exceptional,” Berkeley said. “It gave us a big lead at times and we were able to afford some of their point runs. Our right sides, Kate [Maley] and Katie [Scherer] had great offensive days for us. I’m proud of the team for finishing out the weekend 2-0 against a really tough Duquesne team.”

The Ramblers continue conference play and take on Davidson University Friday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. in Gentile Arena.