April 14, 2004

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.- - For the second time in 10 hours, Loyola Chicago got the better of Lewis University; the Ramblers introduced Lewis head basketball coach Jim Whitesell for the same position at Loyola and the Rambler volleyball team bested Lewis 3-1 Wednesday.

Lewis (15-13, 10-5 Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) fell 24-30, 21-30, 30-17, 28-30 to Loyola (19-7, 12-4 MIVA). The Flyers managed to get untracked in just one game as the Ramblers flashed greater enthusiasm and energy throughout the match. Lewis limited Loyola to a -.067 hitting percentage in game 3, but that was the team's lone highlight.

The key statistic for the Ramblers was winning the dig battle 47-36, a total that included 15 digs in game 1.

Loyola's Mike Alesch tallied a match-high 22 kills and added nine digs and four blocks to pace the Ramblers. Shawn Schroeder added 15 kills, five blocks and a .560 hitting percentage, while Chris Kozlarek had 11 kills and eight digs. Setter Brian Guntli passed out 59 assists and had seven digs.

Fabiano Barreto paced Lewis with 17 kills, seven digs and five blocks. Jared Dayton and Enrique Escalante posted 13 kills each in supporting roles. Libero Ryan Stuntz posted a match-high 13 digs.

The loss keeps Lewis in fifth place and will prevent them from hosting a MIVA Tournament Quarterfinal match for the first time since 1998, the year the league began awarding first-round matches to the league's top four seeds. Lewis' first-round opponent will be determined after the final regular season matches this weekend. Lewis could play Loyola, IPFW, Ball State or Ohio State in its first round match.