Wisconsin ousts Loyola from NCAA Volleyball Championship
Dec. 3, 2005
Wisconsin 3, Loyola 0
Madison, Wis. -
Box Score
Madison, Wis. - Junior Courtney Ashley had 10 kills and Loyola gave No. 13 Wisconsin all it could handle in game two, but the Ramblers could not sustain it in a 3-0 (30-18, 30-26, 30-14) loss a NCAA Tournament First Round match tonight at UW Field House in Madison, Wis. The Ramblers wrap up their season with a 13-18 overall mark, a season which included their second consecutive Horizon League Championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
"Wisconsin is a great team and we knew that coming in," said head coach Marcie Bomhack. "They finished second in the Big Ten for a reason and their firepower at the net was the difference tonight."
Loyola, facing the Badgers in the tournament for the second straight year, was productive early, forging a 3-3 tie after a Keily Zins kill and a UW error. The Badgers were able to slowly open a lead but LU was able to remain within striking distance, closing to 14-8 on a block from Hilary Stromath and Audrey Davis. However, the Ramblers offense never could find a rhythm and the hosts closed out a 30-18 win on a Megan Mills ace.
As it has done all season, Loyola regrouped and had the Badgers on the ropes in game two. A pair of Wisconsin errors pulled Loyola within one (10-9) and the Badgers opened up a four-point lead later (20-16) on a Maria Carlini ace, prompting a LU timeout. The timeout served its purpose, as the Ramblers stormed out of the break, reeling off five straight points, which included a pair of kills from both Stromath and Ashley, to take a 21-20 lead. Wisconsin responded with four straight points to regain the advantage and, trailing 25-23, the Ramblers had an opportunity to close the gap even further but an Audra Jeffers block slowed LU's momentum and Wisconsin was able to ease to a 30-26 win from there.
"We showed a lot of fight in game two and I was very proud of our effort," said Bomhack. "Our passing and defense were very good and we were able to open up the middle a little bit, which let us find some seams on the outside."
However, Loyola could not carry the momentum over, as Wisconsin opened game three by scoring the first four points and seven of the first eight and never looked back.
Zins supported Ashley with eight kills and 10 digs while Sarah Elmer (31 assists) and Stromath added six kills apiece. Carlini's 12 kills led the Badgers, who hit .363 for the match and outblocked the Ramblers, 10-4.
Story provided Loyola University Office of Sports Information
