Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne volleyball team wrapped up its series against Loyola Chicago on Saturday afternoon, falling in straight sets during Atlantic 10 action inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. With the loss, the Dukes fall 12-6 (.667) overall and 3-4 (.429) in league action.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
In the third set, Duquesne battled back after trailing 15-8 at the media timeout. Loyola Chicago extended its advantage to 19-11 before the Dukes mounted an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 21-19. Freshman
Londyn Stone sparked the rally with a kill, followed by a service ace from classmate
Keely McMahon-Regan. After a Loyola miscue forced a Ramblers timeout, Stone added back-to-back kills, while senior
Jordan Robertson followed with a solo block. Emma Henry responded with a kill for Loyola Chicago before another Ramblers error and a point from Stone capped the Duquesne run and forced another timeout. Loyola emerged from the break with a 22-19 lead, but freshman
Maddie Bush answered with a kill before junior
Emersen Schrom and Bush teamed up for a block. A subsequent Loyola attacking error evened the score at 22-22. However, the Ramblers regained control down the stretch, closing the set on a 3-1 run to secure a 25-23 victory.
MOMENTUM SHIFT
The opening set featured both teams trading points before Loyola Chicago gained an early 8-6 advantage. The Ramblers found their rhythm with a 7-2 run, extending their lead to 15-8 at the media timeout. Schrom recorded a pair of kills late in the set to trim the deficit to 18-12, with the teams exchanging points to make it 22-16. A Loyola setting error and a solo block from Bush brought the Dukes within four before Bush added another kill to force a Ramblers timeout at 23-20. Out of the break, Loyola Chicago capitalized on consecutive Duquesne errors to secure a 25-20 win in the opening set. Loyola Chicago carried its momentum into the second set, posting a .435 hitting percentage with 13 kills and two service aces to secure a 25-18 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Freshman
Londyn Stone paced the Dukes on Saturday, recording a team-high 13 kills and four digs while hitting at a .310 clip. She was the only Duquesne player to reach double figures in kills.
Simone Searles added eight kills, while senior
Jordan Robertson tallied seven kills, six digs and a team-high three blocks. Junior
Emersen Schrom contributed eight digs and six kills, while freshman
Maddie Bush recorded 2.5 blocks and three kills.
Chloe Wilmot orchestrated the offense with 32 assists while adding 1.5 blocks and two digs.
UP NEXT
Duquesne hits the road next weekend, traveling to Rhode Island on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17 for a two-match series against the Rams inside Keaney Gymnasium.
