ST. LOUIS – Loyola Chicago rallied in set four behind stellar performances from Karlie McNabb and Addie Barnes to capture the Ramblers’ first-ever Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship title with a 3-1 win over No. 3 Dayton Sunday at Chaifetz Pavilion.

 
Loyola (25-8) earns the Atlantic 10 bid to the NCAA Tournament and will learn of its postseason matchup on Nov 27 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPNU.  The top-seeded Ramblers knocked off the four-time defending champion Flyers 25-16, 23-25, 25-15, 25-23. This marks just the third time since 2009 that Dayton has not won the A-10 title.
 
It also marks the third A-10 title Loyola Chicago has won since joining the Atlantic 10 in July. The Ramblers also won men’s and women’s cross country, and played in the men’s soccer championship final game.
 

 

Dayton got out to a quick seven point lead in the fourth set and seemed to be en route to forcing a fifth set. But LUC took 13 of the next 17 points, tying the match at 17 on a block by Bree Borum and Kelsey Watson. McNabb then gave the Ramblers a one-point lead with a kill, and a few minutes later tallied an ace to set up match point. The Flyers got two points back from Lexie Almodovar kills, but Barnes put the match away with a kill.
 
Loyola came out on fire in the first set, and mirrored that performance in the third set. Dayton was in control from first serve in set two, and although the Ramblers made it close, UD took advantage of three LUC errors late in the game to close it out.
 
McNabb tallied a career and match-high 21 kills, and earned All-Championship and Most Outstanding Player honors, hitting at an impressive .312. Barnes hit .316 with 17 kills to also earn an All-Championship spot, and both she and McNabb had nine digs. Grace Hinchman had 23 digs, also a match high.
 
Setters were impressive the entire three tournament days, and both Sunday setters earned All-Championship honors after recording double-doubles. Borum had 50 assists, 14 digs and led LUC with four blocks. Dayton’s Alyssa Miller recorded 32 assists and 10 digs with two blocks.
 
Almodovar had 20 kills to lead UD with three aces and nine digs to earn All-Championship honors. Taylor Russell added 11 kills and Alayna Yates matched Borum with four blocks.
 
Also named All-Championship were George Washington’s Liv Womble and Salem Yohannes.