QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University men's volleyball team began conference play against the 8th ranked team in the country. The Hawks fell in three sets to Loyola-Chicago 25-14, 25-20, and 25-18. 

Play by Play
Set 1
Omari Wheeler got the Hawks started with a kill on the opening play. The Ramblers countered with three points in a row to go up 3-1. 

Zach Reider slammed a kill to put the Hawks within one point 3-2. Loyola extended their lead to four points after back-to-back kills brought the score to 9-5. 

Loyola-Chicago forced a QU timeout when they scored two more points to push their lead to 11-6. 

Out of the timeout the Ramblers remained in control. Loyola gained a 19-10 lead before finishing off the first set with a 25-14 win. 

Set 2
Both teams exchanged points to open the second set. The Hawks tied the score at 4-4 after a big block from Jacob Sheets and Matt Friddle. 

Shortly after, Friddle won a 50/50 ball at the net to tie the score once more 5-5. The Hawks took their first lead of the set after an attack error gave QU an 8-7 edge. Loyola scored twice in a row to quickly regain the lead. 

Loyola-Chicago moved ahead 16-11 after a kill which forced a time out by Quincy. 

QU responded after the short break with a three point run to cut the deficit to 16-14. After a kill by Matt Friddle made the score 17-15, the Ramblers made a run. Loyola scored the next five of six to make the score 22-16. 

The Hawks would drop set two 25-20. 

Set 3
The third set started the same way as the second. Both teams were notched early at two points apiece. Omari Wheeler put the Hawks ahead 3-2 with a kill. 

Brendon Estrada got his first kill of the game and allowed the Hawks to move ahead 6-4. The Ramblers scored the next two points tying the score. 

The score remained tight midway through the set. After a point by Loyola tied the game 11-11, the Hawks called timeout. 

Loyola-Chicago forced another timeout by Quincy after they moved in front 17-14. 

Out of the timeout, the Ramblers extended their lead to 20-14 to put the pressure on the Hawks. Quincy was unable to overcome the late deficit and dropped set three 25-18. 

Stat Leader
Omari Wheeler - 14 kills

QU's Record
4-7, 0-1 MIVA

Up Next 
The Hawks play again tomorrow night (Feb. 9) at 7 p.m. against #10 ranked Lewis.