Hot-Hitting Ramblers Sweep Windsor In Season Opener Styler records team-high 10 kills in win

CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2009) - The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team rode a .463 team hitting percentage to a 3-0 (30-22, 30-20, 30-27) sweep of Windsor on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 7) in Alumni Gym. The Ramblers (1-0) never trailed in either of the first two sets and pulled off a comeback win in the third to seal the sweep in their favor.

"The things we've been working on up to this point were executed pretty well today," said Loyola head coach Shane Davis. "It was good to see our top guys step up and play well, especially in our first match of the season."

Loyola jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first set after kills from senior Kris Berzins and sophomore Mike Bunting, holding the lead until Windsor tied the score at 11. After the teams exchanged two points apiece, the Ramblers used a 17-9 run to claim the set. LU hit a match-high .727

(17-1-22) in the first, making it through the set without trailing.

After kills from senior Matt Adler and Bunting and three Windsor errors, the Ramblers took a five-point lead (11-6) to start the second set. LU then ripped off a 12-5 run with multiple kills from Bunting and sophomore Brendan Styler to take the score to 23-11. Kyle Williamson notched two kills to help cut the Lancers' deficit to nine (25-16), but two Rambler kills and three Lancer errors sealed the second set in Loyola's favor.

The teams went back-and-forth to open the third set, but two Loyola errors and a kill by Shane Byrne helped Windsor take its biggest lead of the match at 9-6. The Lancers remained in front until a Styler kill evened the score at 15. Back-to-back blocks from Adler and junior Kyle Exline helped the Ramblers re-gain the lead at 19-17, which they would not give up for the duration of the set.

Loyola will take on Windsor again tomorrow night (Jan. 8) at Alumni Gym.

The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.