The Youngstown State volleyball team got a career-high 12 kills from Lauren Thompson and registered 12 blocks to defeat Loyola Chicago in four sets on Saturday evening at the Northwestern Wildcat Classic. The set scores were 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21.

It was the Penguins' third victory over a Missouri Valley Conference team this season, and YSU is now 9-2 for the first time since 1995.

After YSU was held to a .152 attack percentage in the opening set, it combined to hit .284 over the final three sets. The Penguins tied their season high with 19 kills in the final set.

Thompson's 12 kills came on an impressive .588 attack percentage, and Shannon Watson matched her with 12 kills while adding a match-best seven blocks. Lexi Egler had 10 kills and nine digs. Val Jeffery had 44 assists and seven digs, and Aly Ryan had nine kills and four blocks as both earned all-tournament team honors.

The Penguins were able to withstand 11 aces from the Ramblers, though Loyola committed nine service errors.

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching our team play this weekend," YSU head coach Mark Hardaway said. "Our players came up with the defensive adjustments that made the difference today, and we really picked up the energy after the second set."

"Lauren stepped up offensively, Aly had another solid match, and Val did a nice job of finding the hot hitter down the stretch. Jessie Gerig and Nikki Thompson played great defense in the last two sets as well."

"I'm so proud of what this team has done so far this season."

Morgan Reardon led all players with 18 kills for Loyola.

Loyola outscored YSU 10-5 down the stretch of the opening set to win 25-21, but Youngstown State rebounded and never trailed in the second set. The Penguins scored six of the first seven points and were able to hold off the Ramblers when they tied the score at 17. A Reardon service error gave the Penguins a 24-20 lead, and Thompson's third kill of the set in as many swings evened the match.

Youngstown State then scored eight of the final 11 points in the third set to rally for a 25-23 win in the third set. After leading 2-1, the Penguins didn't hold the upper hand again until Aly Ryan and Val Jeffery blocked Kathleen Vogel to give YSU a 23-22 advantage. Jeffery's kill gave the Penguins two set points, and Ryan's kill finished it.

There were 11 tied and seven lead changes in the fourth set, and neither team led by more than two until Jeffery's kill put the Penguins up 15-12. Loyola scored the next four points to go ahead 16-15, but YSU answered with its own 4-0 run to go ahead 19-16. The Penguins led by at least two the rest of the match.

Youngstown State will play at Kent State on Tuesday before wrapping up the non-conference season at the Michigan Invitational next weekend.