Box Score | Highlights

CHICAGO - Despite posting one more kill than its opponent, Loyola could never find its rhythm and dropped a 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-18) decision to Indiana State tonight at Gentile Arena. Loyola slides to 6-10 (2-5 Valley) with the loss while the Sycamores improve to 11-6 (3-3) with the win.

After a Libby Bresser kill opened the match, Indiana State immediately assumed control. The Sycamores ripped off six of the next seven points to take the lead and it was an 11-5 game after a Bree Spangler kill. Back-to-back kills from Brittany Brown and Morgan Reardon pulled the Ramblers within three (14-11) and it was still a three-point game, 17-14, after a Sycamore error. However, Indiana State rattled off eight of the last 10 points to take the opening set, 25-18. Loyola's offense struggled, as the Ramblers hit -.026 in the frame.

The second set was close in the early going with a Bresser kill forging another deadlock at 10-10. The teams traded points to 12-all before Indiana State strung together three straight points to move out to a 15-12 lead. Loyola was still down just three (18-15) after a Maureen Carls kill but the Sycamores rattled off the next four to take a commanding, 22-15, advantage. Two straight Brown kills helped key a Loyola rally that made it 23-20 but a service error gave ISU four set points and it cashed in on the third chance courtesy of a Kynedi Nalls kill. Brown had it going in the set, slamming seven kills on nine errorless swings to lead the Ramblers.

Loyola had to play from behind again in the third set as Indiana State jumped out to a 6-3 edge. The Ramblers were able to stem the tide but they were unable to string points together to put a dent into the deficit. The Sycamores opened a 15-10 advantage on a Cassandra Willis kill but two Reardon kills later pulled LU within a pair, 16-14. It was still just a two-point spread, 19-17, after a Brown kill but four consecutive Loyola errors made it a 23-17 lead and a Sarah Peterson kill three plays later closed out the match.

The Ramblers offense never got untracked as they hit .076 compared to Indiana State's pedestrian .194 efficiency.

Reardon and Brown had 11 kills each with Reardon adding 13 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Spangler led Indiana State with nine kills.

Loyola returns to action tomorrow night when it hosts Illinois State at 6 p.m.