From University of Chicago Athletics

The University of Chicago volleyball team began day one of the Gargoyle Classic with a 3-0 sweep of Millikin University on Friday.

The Maroons improved to 2-0 and the Big Blue dropped to 1-2.

UChicago 3, Millikin 0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-23)

The Maroons were successful on serve throughout the three-set match, compiling eight aces. Senior outside hitter Maren Loe helped reeled off 10-straight points on her serve early in the first set to stake her squad to an 11-2 lead. The home team kept a lead of at least six points the rest of the set, winning 25-14. UChicago hit for a .300 percentage in the set while Millikin was limited to a .065 percentage.

The second set played out more evenly. The Big Blue went ahead 7-5 and the Maroons quickly tied it at 8-8. At 16-15, senior outside hitter Jasmine Mobley smacked two kills and junior middle blocker Katie LaPorte served up an ace to give the Maroons some breathing room. Loe put away two kills at the end to clinch the set 24-21.

A rash of attack errors hurt Millikin early in the third set and UChicago led 8-3. The home side looked poised to put the match away at 24-19 when the Big Blue found their mojo by winning the next five points. But sophomore setter/outside hitter Stephanie Sinnappan tallied the final kill on the right side to win the match 25-23.

Loe and Mobley combined for 30 of the team's 42 kills while hitting for a .371 hitting percentage. Loe also tallied four of the team's eight aces, while Millikin committed nine service errors. Senior setter Ragine Graves handed out 35 assists, while freshman libero Brooke Watson led the team in digs with 13. UChicago hit .268 as a team compared to .165 by Millikin.

UChicago Stat Leaders
Maren Loe (Sr.) – 16 kills, 7 digs, 4 aces
Jasmine Mobley (Sr.) – 14 kills, 4 digs
Ragine Graves (Sr.) – 35 assists, 9 digs
Brooke Watson (Fr.) – 13 digs