Box Score

CHICAGO, IL - The men's volleyball team faced No. 12 Loyola Chicago on Saturday night. The Ramblers defeated the Lions, 3-0 after an incredibly long third set, moving Emmanuel's record to 6-8 on the season. 

Set 1:

The first set featured 11 times the score was tied and 5 lead changes as the Lions matched the Ramblers point-for-point in the early going. However, with the score tied at 12, Loyola gained a two point advantage that they held for several rallies. The Ramblers then went on to finish off the set strong as the Lions lost it, 20-25. The Ramblers hit an impressive .444 in the first set, versus .143 for the Lions. 

Set 2:

This set began in similar fashion to the first, with lots of back and forth. With the score tied at seven, a pair of massive blocks for the Lions gave them a two point advantage, 9-7. A three point run by the Ramblers resulted in yet another lead change. With the score tied at 11, the Ramblers once again inched ahead. They led by as much as three, but a rally by the Lions got them back within a point, 16-17. The pattern quickly repeated itself as Loyola led by three just to have the Lions cut it back to one, 18-19. Loyola then scored four straight, increasing their lead to five. Emmanuel answered quickly as sophomore Eli Zdonek and freshman Gustavo Cavalcanti each recorded a kill. An ace by sophomore Carlos Guerrero got the Lions back within two, 21-23. However, the Ramblers called a timeout and then scored twice more to take the set, 25-21. 

Set 3:

The score was tied seven times early on in the third. When it was knotted 7-7, the Ramblers scored four straight, giving themselves their largest lead of the set. The Lions scored out of a timeout, but the teams proceeded to trade points as Loyola maintained their four point advantage. The Ramblers extended their advantage to five, but an ace by junior Jayden Young was the third point in a row for the Lions, pulling them back within a couple, 15-17. Emmanuel continued their momentum, tying the score at 19 and forcing Loyola to take a timeout. A solo block by freshman Daniel Beachum then gave the Lions the lead, 21-20. A service error by Emmanuel was followed with a kill from Zdonek, but another service error tied things at 21. A score by the Ramblers was followed with another kill from Zdonek and an ace by Beachum, putting Emmanuel ahead 23-22. A kill by Loyola was followed with a kill by Young, giving the Lions their first set point of the match, 24-23. After a timeout by Loyola, a service error by the Lions was followed with a kill by the Ramblers, flipping the score and giving them set point, 25-24. Coach Friddle then used a timeout before the Ramblers recorded a service error, extending the set once again. Young came in clutch at the service line, catching Loyola's back line for an ace that gave Emmanuel the advantage once more, 27-26. But the endless set continued when the Ramblers knocked down a kill. Zdonek then recorded two kills, but one from Loyola in between prevented the set from finishing. With the score 29-28 in favor of Emmanuel, a net violation on the Lions kept things going. The teams traded errors once more, tying the score at 30. A pair of kills by the Ramblers finally put an end to the battle as Loyola took the set, 32-30, and the match, 3-0

Eli Zdonek led the way offensively, finishing with 12 kills, 7 digs, and 2 blocks while hitting .393. Gustavo Cavalcanti followed with 8 kills, 4 blocks, and an ace. Libero Nick Eichenberger finished with 15 digs. 

Next up, men's volleyball will host Alderson Broaddus on Friday, March 11 at 7:00pm. 

For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.