Loyola bounces back with win over rival

Updated: September 29, 2011 8:11PM

Doubt started to creep onto Loyola’s side of the court Thursday, but the Ramblers beat it back to snap a two-match losing streak with their 25-20, 15-25, 25-20 win over Wilmette rival Regina Dominican.

“We needed that feeling of winning again,” said junior outside hitter Anna Pontarelli, whose team lost to Mother McAuley in two sets earlier this week.

Middle hitter Kaitlin Mohr led Loyola (12-5 overall, 3-2 GCAC Red) with eight kills. Kailey Carini finished with seven kills, including four in the first set.

“She was on fire,” Loyola coach Jenny Morris said of Carini. “And almost every time we got Kaitlin the ball, she scored. We just weren’t getting her the ball enough.”

The Panthers (6-10, 2-3) evened the match with a 5-0 run in the second set that gave them control. They then led Loyola by two midway through the third set before the Ramblers went on a 5-0 run to go up 20-16.

Regina got as close as two, but Loyola put down three kills to win three of the final four points.

“When you’re in the midst of a losing streak, you think to yourself, ‘Are we really that bad,’” Morris said. “But we came out strong in that first game.”

Senior Megan French paced the Panthers with 12 kills, while senior Julie Dombai added nine kills. Erin French, Megan’s younger sister, finished with 15 digs.

“We can’t be disappointed because this was the best game we played as a team,” said Megan French, who learned Thursday she might have broken bones and torn ligaments in her foot. “It stinks we lost, but there are a lot more positives than negatives.”

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