Conference News

Ramblers Edge Upset-Minded Rutgers-Newark

Loyola-Chicago 3, Rutgers-Newark 0

CHICAGO - Rutgers-Newark sophomore middle hitter Jon Keller and freshman outside hitter Grant Metheny collected 11 kills apiece, but Loyola-Chicago staved off an upset bid with a 30-27, 33-31, 30-27 non-conference men's volleyball win.

Freshman setter Jeff Zornig collected 36 assists for the Scarlet Raiders (2-2) who hit .250 as a team, but the Ramblers (4-1) got 43 assists from their setter Mike Hutz to hit .292 for the match.

Keller hit .450 with just two errors in 20 attacks while adding six assisted blocks. Methany hit an even .500 with three errors in 16 swings while adding seven digs and two assisted blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter Nate Stott finished with eight kills, a solo block and two blocking assists for the Raiders while junior libero Derek Wolfe posted a team-high nine digs.

Ian Anderson and Joe Guntli had 13 kills apiece for Loyola-Chicago while Kris Berzins added 10 kills, two aces and five digs. Anderson chipped in four digs, two aces and two assisted blocks. Hutz roped three aces, including one on match point.

In game one, sophomore middle blocker Kenneth Stumbaugh and Stott came up with back-to-back kills to put Rutgers-Newark ahead, 23-22.  But, Loyola answered with four straight kills, capped by back-to-back putaways by Berzins, to gain a three point edge.  The Raiders got no closer than two points down the stretch.

In game two, Rutgers-Newark took a 29-27 lead when Keller followed a kill with an ace, but the Ramblers rallied for a 31-30 lead.  Metheny knotted the game with a kill before Anderson delivered the go-ahead kill for Loyola.  Anderson and Nick Lamoureux then teamed for the game-winning block.

In game three, Stott and Zornig posted consecutive kills to bring the Raiders even at 26-26.  But, Guntli had back-to-back kills before Hutz and Daniel Leis combined for a block to boost the Ramblers into a 29-26 lead.  Hutz served his third and final ace of the evening.