Jan. 25, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - The No. 14 Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team improved to 4-1 on the season (2-0 MIVA) with a 3-0 sweep of Rutgers-Newark (2-2, 1-0 EIVA). Game scores were 30-27, 33-31 and 30-28.

The Ramblers pulled out in front of the Scarlet Raiders by a score of 6-2 on service aces by senior opposite hitter Ian Anderson and sophomore outside hitter Kris Berzins, but Rutgers-Newark refused to go quietly as the Scarlet Raiders narrowed the Ramblers' lead to one (14-13) on a pair of kills by Grant Metheny. With six ties and a couple of lead changes, the Ramblers took the lead for good on a kill by junior outside hitter Joe Guntli. Loyola went on to take game one by a score of 30-27.

Game two was a back-and-forth affair, which saw eight ties and four lead changes. With the score knotted at 31 after trading numerous points, the Ramblers took the second game on a block assist by Anderson and junior middle blocker Nick Lamoureux. With a 33-31 victory, Loyola took a 2-0 advantage over the Scarlet Raiders into the locker room.

The third game was much of the same, as the Ramblers and Scarlet Raiders exchanged points throughout. Game three saw a total of 15 ties and a half dozen lead changes. Tied at 28 a piece Anderson spiked a Jeff Zornig serve for the kill to give the Ramblers their final lead of the night. Redshirt freshman setter Mike Hutz ended the game with his game-high third service ace of the evening.

Anderson and Guntli led the Ramblers with 13 kills a piece. Anderson hit .417 on the night as he recorded a pair of aces, four digs and three block assists. Hutz tallied 43 assists and a trio of assists to go with his career-high three service aces.

Loyola concludes a four-game homestand tomorrow evening when it hosts No. 13 George Mason at Alumni Gym. First serve is set for 7 p.m.