Box Score Chicago, Ill. – #14 Charleston falls in four sets to #9 Loyola on the road. Both teams move to 17-2 on the season after the matchup.
 
The Basics:
Location: Gentile Arena
Score: UC  1, Loyola 3
Records: UC 17-2 (3-1 EIVA), Loyola 17-2 (8-0 MIVA)
 
How it Happened:
Both teams entered the contest in the top 15 national rankings, Loyola at #9 and Charleston as the #14 ranked team. With a top 15 victory already under their belt this season, the Golden Eagles were prepared for another road challenge facing the Ramblers.
 
Set one was fairly matched with both teams trading side outs to 6-6. The Ramblers then capitalized on three kills in a row, taking the 9-3 lead and forcing a Golden Eagle timeout. Heading back out from the timeout, the Ramblers went on a 5-2 run, extending their lead and once again forcing a Charleston timeout at 14-8 Loyola. Charleston came out of the timeout and capitalized with a kill, but the Ramblers silenced the Golden Eagles when they went on a five-point run, featuring two aces to increase their lead to 19-9. The next few points were traded back and forth until Loyola eventually took the first set by a score of 25-14.
 
Charleston came out in set two ready to fight back, once again going point for point with the Ramblers early on. The Golden Eagles capitalized on offense, collecting all the points thus far in the match by way of kill. The Golden Eagles led the Ramblers 10-6 before forcing a Loyola timeout. After the timeout, the Ramblers continued to struggle, only scoring two of the next seven points, Charleston leading 15-8. The extensive Golden Eagle lead forced another Loyola timeout, Charleston with a seven-point advantage. The Golden Eagles continued to roll, closing out the second set 25-16 and evening the set score at 1-1. Charleston hit .500% while capitalizing on 15-26 attempts with only two errors in the set.
 
In set three, Charleston jumped out ahead 4-1 over the Ramblers before committing two errors, allowing Loyola to bring the score to 4-3. The Golden Eagles and the Ramblers went on to trade side outs, keeping the match very close. With the set tied at 13-13, Charleston's Veit Bils gave the Golden Eagles the advantage with back-to-back kills, forcing a Loyola timeout as they trailed 15-13 in the third set. Coming out of the timeout, the Ramblers brought the set back within one as they capitalized on a kill, but UC's Garret Schnitker answered right back for Charleston with a kill of his own, UC 16-14. Both teams fought back and forth for the next few points, but the Ramblers eventually tied the set at 18-18, forcing Head Coach Luke Reynolds to call a Golden Eagle timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Charleston's Luuk Hoge Bavel and Will Kimenhour gave the Golden Eagles the advantage with a block. The Ramblers returned the point with a kill, evening the score once more, 19-19. The next two points were traded as both teams committed a serviced error, set three tied at 20-20. Loyola went on to take their first lead of the set with back-to-back kills, Ramblers now leading 22-20 as Charleston called their second timeout of the set. Charleston came out of the timeout and got the quick point off a Rambler service error, but the Golden Eagles fell short in the third set as Loyola took the 25-21 set victory.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed in the opening points of set four, down 3-1, but Charleston fought right back bringing the set to 5-4 Loyola. The teams traded a few points back and forth until Loyola took a five-point lead after several key blocks. Points were then again traded but Loyola kept their advantage, leading 15-10 and forcing a UC timeout. The Golden Eagles came out of the timeout and picked up the next two points off a big Luuk Hoge Bavel swing and a Loyola net error to bring the deficit back within three. The Ramblers brought their lead right back, 19-14, and Charleston once again took a timeout. The Ramblers closed out the fourth set 25-16, picking up the victory over the Golden Eagles.
 
 
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles head to Purdue Fort Wayne for a road contest tomorrow evening at 7PM.