Associated Press
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Kevin Tillie had 14 kills to help defending champion UC Irvine sweep Loyola of Chicago 3-0 in the NCAA volleyball semifinals Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.
The third-ranked Anteaters (24-7) will face the No. 1 Brigham Young in the final Sunday night. The Cougars beat Penn State in the late match, also in three sets.
Irvine took control in the first set, though had to go an extra point to win, 26-24. The Anteaters cruised in the second set winning, 25-18.
Loyola (22-10) battled back from a 24-21 deficit in the third set to tie it at 24. Loyola took the lead 26-25 and again at 27-26, but the Anteaters tied it at 27, then got the final two points on a block by setter Chris Austin and a kill by Connor Hughes.
Cody Caldwell led the Ramblers with 12 kills.
Taylor Sander led BYU (26-4) with 17 kills in the 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 victory over Penn State (23-8).