ST. LOUIS – Loyola Chicago turned back a furious rally from No. 4 George Washington Saturday, winning 3-2 in the Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship semifinals at Chaifetz Pavilion.
 
The regular-season champion Ramblers (24-8) advance to the A-10 title match in their first year in the league with a 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 24-26, 15-12 victory. Loyola will face the winner between No. 2 Davidson and No. 3 Dayton Sunday at 1:00 pm ET / Noon CT.
 
Loyola Chicago had four players in double figures, led by A-10 Player of the Year Karlie McNabb with 20. Addie Barnes added 16 and hit a team-high .303. Emily Banitt (14) and Taylor Venuto  (10) each tallied double-digit kills, and Venuto added a team-high four blocks. Banitt also hit a match-high .400. A-10 Setter of the year Bree Borum had 55 assists and 17 digs for a double-double.
 
Through the first two sets, Loyola appeared to be in control and headed for a sweep of the Colonials. The Ramblers were dominant, hitting a combined .344 as a team through sets one and two with three players quickly reaching double-digit kills.
 
Loyola appeared ready to complete a three-set win when, down 19-11, George Washington won 10 of the next 13 points to tie the set at 21. Salem Yohannes caught fire, registering six kills during the run. Yohannes tied a career high with 18 kills in the match. Four of the final six set points went to GW.
 
The Colonials (18-15) weren’t done and a tightly contested fourth set went their way thanks to a pair of Rambler errors with the score tied at 24, forcing a decisive game five. Loyola scored three quick points early in the fifth set on kills from McNabb and Barnes and an ace by Madi Corey. The Ramblers held that lead for the remainder of the set and closed out the match on a Banitt kill.
 
Liv Womble (14) and Brittany Myers (11) joined Yohannes in double-digit kills, with Womble hitting at a .308 clip. Addie Feek record seven blocks to lead all defensive players, and Bella Bowman had 17 digs for the Colonials.