Loyola Cruises To 3-0 Win Over No. 15 Saint Francis

CHICAGO (Jan. 29, 2010) - Sophomore Domenic Dewaele recorded 14 kills, including six in the first set, to lead the Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team over 15th-ranked Saint Francis, 3-0 (30-26, 30-21, 30-21), on Friday night (Jan. 29) in Alumni Gym. The Ramblers (5-0) posted a season-high .443 team hitting percentage, while the Red Flash (6-2) hit .247 in the loss.

"I'm pleased with the results, but not surprised," said Loyola head coach Shane Davis. "The guys have worked hard over the last few weeks.

After a tough road game at IPFW last week, it was important for us to play our best from set one all the way through. I was pleased with our overall effort, and I thought Domenic did an especially nice job."

The teams traded points to open the match, but back-to-back kills from Jordan Vardee gave Saint Francis a 10-7 lead early on. Three kills and a Mike Hutz service ace helped LU regain the lead at 11-10. The teams went back and forth until two kills by Dewaele spurred a four-point run to give the Ramblers a 20-16 lead. Loyola would keep the lead for the rest of the set, with Kris Berzins and Mike Bunting notching multiple kills to maintain the edge.

The second set began much like the first, as the teams exchanged blows through the first 10 points. Two Saint Francis errors gave Loyola a 14-12 lead, which it would not relinquish for the remainder of the set.

With the score at 21-20, the Ramblers used multiple kills by Bunting and Dewaele to rip off a 9-1 run to end the frame on top.

Loyola used its momentum from the second set to come out swinging in the third, jumping out to an early 10-3 lead after two service aces from Mike Morice. Two Dewaele kills allowed the Ramblers to extend the lead to nine at 18-9, and two blocks from Hutz and Matt Adler helped LU take the largest lead of the match at 21-11. The Red Flash would get as close as seven at 24-17, but the Ramblers took six of the next 10 points to take the set and the match.

Berzins and Bunting each posted 11 kills to join Dewaele in double-figures, while Hutz recorded a career-high eight blocks and Adler chipped in seven to pace Loyola defensively. Varee led SFU with a match-high 18 kills.

The Ramblers close out a busy week tomorrow night when they host No. 5 Penn State at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Fans are urged to purchase their tickets on-line before the match at http://www.luc.edu/mensvolleyball.

Tickets are free for students, $5 for adults and $3 for children.