April 11, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - Despite hitting .515 in game three, the Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-0 (30-21, 30-18, 30-28) contest to top-ranked Penn State. With the loss the Ramblers fall to 15-13 on the year, while the Nittany Lions improve to 25-1 on the season.

Penn State jumped out in front early in game one, as the visitors took a 12-7 lead on a service ace by Jay Stauffer. The Nittany Lions pushed their lead to seven (19-12), taking advantage of a couple of Rambler miscues. The visitors rattled off a pair of kills followed by a Loyola attack error to stretch their lead to double-digits (23-13). The Ramblers battled but could not overcome the deficit and eventually fell, 30-21.

Game two was all Penn State, as the Nittany Lions opened the game on a 5-1 run. The Ramblers fought back, but were unable to close the gap as the visitors took a 16-10 lead on a Max Holt kill. Penn State hit .375 in the second game and cruised to a 30-18 victory taking a two-game lead into the locker room.

The Ramblers came out strong in the third game as they matched the Nittany Lions point-for-point. The two teams were tied 18 times and exchanged leads four times. The Ramblers took their largest lead of the night on a Kris Berzins kill to give the hosts a 19-16 advantage. Penn State refused to quit and took a one-point lead on a Ryan Sweitzer service ace. The Ramblers countered with a pair of kills from Joe Guntli that were separated by a Penn State error to regain the lead, 22-20. With the score knotted at 27-apiece, Holt and Matt Anderson knocked down back-to-back kills to send the game to match-point (29-27). A kill by Guntli cut the Nittany Lions' lead to one (29-28), but Holt's 11th and final kill of the night would end the game, 30-28.

Guntli led the Ramblers with 14 kills and three digs, while Berzins contributed 10 kills, two assists and a pair of digs.

The Nittany Lions were led by Anderson's match-high 16 kills and six digs.

The Ramblers close out the regular-season on Saturday, April 12 when they host St. Francis (Pa.). First serve is set for 7 p.m. Loyola will honor its seniors in a pre-match ceremony.