Ramblers Top DePaul on Day Two of Chicago Cup

Saturday, September 21

McGrath-Phillips Arena

12:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

8-2

Loyola

6-5

Loyola Chicago

DePaul

Ramblers Top DePaul on Day Two of Chicago Cup

9/21/2019 2:56:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHICAGO - The Blue Demons fell in a hard-fought four set battle against Loyola 1-3 (15-25, 25-21, 24-26, 19-25) Saturday afternoon on the final day of the Chicago Cup.

FROM COACH ZIDEK
"Loyola is such a fun team to play because they press you with great arms on the attack and scrappy defense," said head coach Marie Zidek. "That match made us better and will serve us well long term. I am really proud of how this team responded today especially after the flat match we had last night. We just need to continue to push in pressurized situations and that remains our next focus as a team.

"Last year we did not have too many of these moments where we needed to make plays down the stretch. This year we are a lot better and deeper with ball control and our systems. That and our depth are putting us in positions to become the agressor.

"This team is so close to its tipping point and they continue to work for those moments. The growth has been phenomenal and we look forward to another opportunity tonight."

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE » The first point of the match went to DePaul on a kill from Brittany Maxwell, however, the Ramblers quickly grabbed a 5-1 lead. Loyola held a wide lead and the Blue Demons would later go on a 2-0 run on a LUC service error and a Donna Brown kill to make it 8-13. Six of the next eight points would grow Loyola's lead to 19-10, forcing DePaul to call the first timeout. Out of the stoppage, DePaul would only see five more points and the Ramblers would go on to take the first set 25-15.

SET TWO » A Maxwell kill paired with a LUC error would give DePaul the first lead, however, Loyola would soon jump ahead and hold the advantage until a Donna Brown kill evened the score at 16-16. The Blue Demons claimed four of the next five points courtesy of three LUC errors and a Maxwell kill, taking a 20-17 lead and urging a Loyola timeout. The next two points out of the break went to Loyola but back-to-back service aces from Natalie Hayward would distance the lead to 23-19. Kills from Emma Price and Mattie Norris would make DePaul the first to 25, taking the second set 25-21.

SET THREE » Loyola burst into a 5-1 lead that would grow to 13-7 before DePaul took its first timeout. The middle of the set consisted of an attempt to catch up from the Blue Demons and the score would eventually meet at 21-21. A kill from Bailey Nelson would bring DPU within one at 22-23 and a Maxwell kill would have the same effect at 23-24. An attack error from the Ramblers would knot the score 24-24 but the last two points would go to Loyola for a 26-24 set win.

SET FOUR » The first eight points exchanged between sides but Loyola would break off into a 8-5 lead. DePaul remained close but stayed in a deficit up to the first timeout trailing 12-16. A kill from Maxwell later in the set would bring DePaul within one at 17-18 but Loyola would go on a 4-0 run to escape into a 24-18 lead and would go on to take the winning set 25-19.

LEADERS

Kills » Brittany Maxwell (14)
Assists » Dolan (24)
Digs » Isabelle Banez (17)
Solo Blocks » Donna Brown, Avarie Evans-Allen (2)
Aces » Natalie Hayward (3)

UP NEXT
The Blue Demons compete in one final contest of the Chicago Cup as they take on Northwestern tonight at 8 p.m. CT.

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