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Purdue Fort Wayne
Loyola Chicago
Baby 'Dons Nearly Pull Off Comeback
2/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 29, 2008
Fort Wayne, IN - With things going south in game 3, IPFW Head Coach Arnie Ball had seen enough out of his starting lineup to know something had to change. That change nearly ended up in a Mastodons' win, but #13 Loyola had just enough in the end to top #15 IPFW, 3-2 at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center Friday night.
The Ramblers took Game 1, 30-26. IPFW tied it at one with a 30-27 win in Game 2, but Loyola jumped out to a 20-14 lead in Game 3 which prompted the lineup change for the Mastodons.
In came freshman Ben Duckworth, Darryl Shank, sophomore Nathaniel Berg, and seniors Steve Rogers and Dan McNerney.
And, while Loyola took Game 3, 30-20, Coach Ball liked what he saw and sent that lineup out for Game 4.
The Baby 'Dons responded. IPFW opened up a, 9-5 lead on a kill by Rogers.
Duckworth blasted a ball to the ground making it, 17-14.
Loyola climbed back closer as senior opposite Ian Anderson drew the Ramblers to within one with one of his match-high 27 kills.
Loyola would eventually take a 30-29 lead, but the 'Dons would not go away. Senior outside hitter Brock Ullrich, the only starter left in the match, tied the match at 30 with a blast from the left side.
Ullrich tied it again at 32 with one of his 14 kills.
Shank put the 'Dons up 33-32, and IPFW won Game 4 on a Rambler ball handling error.
Unfortunately, IPFW couldn't finish the comeback. Anderson flexed in the fifth as the Ramblers closed it out, 15-10.
Loyola also got double-digit kill nights from Joe Guntli (20), George Kamberos, and Nick Lamoureux.
IPFW was led by senior opposite Jason Yhost with 15 kills. McNerney came on to dish out 29 assists.
With the loss, IPFW falls to 7-6, 2-3 MIVA. Loyola improves to 9-6, 4-2 MIVA.
The 'Dons return to action, Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., hosting Quincy University.
~Dons~
