CHICAGO ? Senior Ashley Baker led the Western Illinois volleyball team to its second victory of the 2007 season, with a 3-2 (23-30, 30-19, 30-25, 28-30, 16-14) win over Loyola-Chicago. Baker tallied 17 kills, three service aces, 19 digs, and four blocks for the Westerwinds (2-7, 0-0 Summit League).

“Loyola has a great program,” said head coach Kym McKay. “They have dominated the Horizon League for several years and we are excited to get a win over a team that is at the top of the Horizon League and before we open up the home portion of our season.”

Western was forced to play a fifth game for the first time during the 2007 season and it quickly became a battle for the lead. The Ramblers (2-8, 0-0 Horizon League) took an early 5-1 advantage with the momentum in their favor from the end of game four. The Westerwinds then got back in the game to tie it at five. Western then went up by two points (8-6) before the teams switched sides.

The game remained close with both teams vying for the lead until the Westerwinds took a 13-11 advantage on a kill by Baker, the 2006 Mid-Continent Conference co-Player of the Year.

“These are two teams that are better than their records reflect,” said McKay. “Two teams that right now are trying to learn how to win even though they are good enough to do so. We had the point advantage down the stretch and that is what allowed us to win because I think that we were out-played late in the match.”

Loyola took an early 4-2 lead in game one before extending that margin to as many as seven points (14-7). Western then rebounded with a 4-0 run that pulled it back within three points. The Ramblers did not allow the Westerwinds to gain much more ground until Baker recorded a block solo to make the score 22-19. That play started a two-point run that brought Western back within two, but Loyola did not let the Westerwinds get any closer during the remainder of the game.

Game two started out much better for the Westerwinds as they went up 6-1 before Loyola was able to close the gap to two points (6-4). Western then rolled out to a double-digit lead (17-7) and never let the Ramblers get closer than four points.

Western again came out strong in game three, opening the lead to three before allowing Loyola to earn its first point. The Ramblers kept fighting and tied the game at 11, but the Westerwinds went on a 3-0 run to gain the lead. Loyola fought back within one, but it was not enough as Western led by as many as five points the rest of the game.

Game four started out as a back and fourth battle before Western took the lead (7-4) with a 4-0 run. The battle then continued as Loyola tied the game at nine, but the Westerwinds did not allow the Ramblers to take a lead. Loyola fought its way back into the game and took the lead at 21-20, but it was short lived as Western went back up due to Rambler errors. The rest of the game was a back and fourth battle before the Ramblers earned the victory.

Western improved on its season hitting percentage of .164, with a mark of .279 (73k-22e-1183ta) in the match. The Westerwinds saw double-digit kill performances from five members of the team, including Baker, seniors Amy Sauerwein (13) and Michelle Donnelly (14), and junior Monique Houston (10), Sarah Trimpe (12).

“Overall we did a lot of good things that we have been focusing on,” McKay said. “Loyola had the better composure in terms of intensity and that is something that I hope our team will look to add to our game.”

Western will now return to Macomb, Ill., for its first home and first Summit League match of the 2007 season when IUPUI comes to Waste Management Court at Western Hall, September 14 at 7 p.m.

Notes: Western ended a nine-match road swing against Loyola that opened the 2007 season... it was also the first five-game match for the Westerwinds this season...five players recorded at least 10 kills for Western in the match...Baker is now just 33 kills away from joining the 1,000 Kill Club, while Sauerwein is 99 kills away from joining the 1,000 Kill/1,000 Dig Club...this was the first victory over the Ramblers since August 31, 1990 and the first in Chicago since October 3, 1986.