Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. - The 12th ranked Loyola men's volleyball team snapped a two-match losing skid with a 3-1 (28-30, 30-21, 32-30, 30-19) victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday night. The Ramblers improve to 6-4 on the season as the Red Flash falls to 5-6.

The Ramblers and Red Flash started game one trading points until Loyola was able to take the lead on a pair of attack errors from Saint Francis. The Red Flash refused to back down and rallied to grab a 12-8 lead on a kill by Jordan Varee. Loyola fought back and held a three-point advantage (27-24) on a Joe Guntli kill, but could not hold on as the Red Flash took game one 30-28 with game point coming on an ace by Varee.

Down one game to none, the Ramblers were determined to take game two as they jumped ahead 8-1 on seven Kris Berzins serves which included a service ace and a pair of kills by Guntli. Loyola dominated the second game, never relinquishing the lead and cruising to a 30-21 victory to even the match at one apiece going into the intermission.

Game three was a back-and-forth affair, as the Ramblers and Red Flash were tied 11 times and exchanged leads four times. With the score knotted at 30, a Saint Francis service error would give the Ramblers match-point as Berzins knocked in one of his 11 kills for a 32-30 victory.

The fourth and final game was all Loyola, as the Ramblers took a 12-6 advantage on a pair of kills from Ian Anderson followed by two more kills by Guntli. The Ramblers broke the game open when they went on a 10-3 run to finish the game and match. Loyola eventually took game four by a score of 30-19.

Three Ramblers finished with double-figure kills, as Anderson led Loyola with 21 kills, Guntli poured in a career-high 19 and Berzins chipped in 11. Mike Hutz tallied 56 assists and three service aces on the evening.

Loyola returns to action on Friday, February 15, when it hosts No. 6 Cal State Northridge. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.