Loyola Battles To 3-1 Victory Over IPFW

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Jan. 22, 2009) - The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team downed IPFW, 3-1, on Friday night (Jan. 22) in Fort Wayne, Ind. Despite dropping the first set, the Ramblers (3-0, 2-0 MIVA) took the next three to defeat the host Mastodons (2-2, 0-2 MIVA).

Sophomore Mike Bunting (24 kills, 10 digs) and junior Mike Hutz (63 assists, 13 digs) each recorded a double-double to lead the way for Loyola.

"I thought we played pretty well," said Loyola head coach Shane Davis. "IPFW played really, really well - they blocked a lot of shots. They're a totally different team than we saw when we played them in exhibition last fall. They played us really tough. It was just a good battle all around."

The teams traded points to open the match until two IPFW attack errors gave Loyola the 11-9 lead in the first set. The Ramblers remained in front for the next several plays, with a service ace by Teddy Adamczyk giving the visitors their biggest lead of the set at 21-17. Two kills from Kris Berzins helped keep Loyola in front until the Mastodons went on an 8-2 run to take the set.

Loyola raced out to an 8-3 lead to open the second set after two kills by Bunting and a Hutz service ace. IPFW then ripped off a 10-4 run to take its first lead of the set at 19-18. The teams exchanged points for several plays before a kill by Darryl Shank put IPFW at set point. Loyola responded with a kill by Berzins to tie the set at 29. The Ramblers would hold off three Mastodon set points before kills from Bunting and Berzins spurred a three-point swing to seal the set in favor of Loyola.

IPFW opened the third frame with a 3-1 run, but Loyola responded by taking seven of the next eight points to earn the early 8-4 lead. Four consecutive Rambler errors allowed the Mastodons to even the score at eight before three kills helped LU regain a three-point lead. Multiple kills from Bunting and Berzins allowed the Ramblers to keep a slight lead at 24-20. IPFW went on a 7-1 run to take the 27-25 lead, but Loyola followed with a 5-1 run, capped off by a Bunting kill to end the set and give LU the 2-1 set lead.

After kills from Bunting and Brendan Styler helped Loyola open the fourth set with a 3-1 advantage, the Ramblers never looked back, leading the way for the remainder of the match. A Berzins ace gave the Ramblers a five-point lead at 16-11, which they would extend to six points with back-to-back IPFW errors at 20-14. Loyola kept its distance, lengthening the lead to a match-high seven points at 29-22. The Mastodons would rattle off four-straight points, but an error at match point would give LU the win.

Berzins recorded 18 kills to help pace the Rambler offense, while Mike Morice swatted seven blocks to lead the defensive effort. Shank recorded 23 kills to lead IPFW.

The Ramblers open a busy week of non-conference play when they host MSOE at Alumni Gym next Tuesday (Jan. 26) at 7 p.m. CT.