Feb. 15, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - George Kamberos poured in a career-high 15 kills, but it was not enough as the No. 12 Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team dropped a heat-breaking 3-2 (22-30, 22-30, 30-26, 32-30, 12-15) contest to No. 4 Cal State Northridge at Alumni Gym on Friday night. The Ramblers fall to 6-5 (3-1 MIVA) on the season while the Matadors improve to 9-4 (6-3 MPSF).

Game one was all Cal State Northridge as the Matadors out-hit the Ramblers .391 to .080. The hosts fell behind early as the Matadors jumped ahead to a 13-7 lead they would not relinquish. After taking advantage of a Nick Lamoureux service error, the Matadors claimed game one on an ace by Kevin McKniff.

The second game was much of the same as the Matadors took a 14-8 lead on a kill by Eric Vance. Cal State Northridge posted 20 kills to Loyola's 10 and cruised to a 30-22 victory which put the Matadors up two games to none going into intermission.

After dropping the first two games, the Ramblers were determined to come from behind as they jumped out in front of the Matadors, 9-4 on a kill by Lamouruex. The hosts held the lead for the remainder of game three and claimed a 30-26 victory.

Reenergized after the victory in game three, the Ramblers fought hard in the fourth game, rallying from behind to stay in the game. Loyola trailed the Matadors almost all of game four until a Kris Berzins kill put the Ramblers up 30-29 for their first lead of the game. With the score knotted at 30, Kamberos dropped a Travis Bluemling serve in for his 11th kill of the night giving the Ramblers a 31-30 edge. A service ace by Joe Guntli sealed game four, forcing a fifth and deciding game.

Game five was a back-and-forth affair which featured nine ties and three lead changes. With the score tied at 11 apiece, Isaac Kneubuhl recorded back-to-back kills to give the Matadors a 13-11 lead they would not surrender. Cal State Northridge took the game and the match on Vance's 24th and final kill of the evening.

Berzins led the Ramblers, as he tied his career-high 18 kills. Kamberos hit .480 in the match recording a career-high 15 kills and five digs. Guntli tallied 10 kills and seven digs as Mike Hutz dished out 56 assists, six digs and three aces in the loss.

The Matadors were led by Vance, who notched a match-high 24 kills and seven digs while hitting .500 on the night.

The Ramblers look to get back on the winning track on Wednesday when they travel to Muncie, Ind., to battle MIVA foe Ball State for a 6:30 p.m. contest.