CHICAGO (October 6, 2017) – The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team, which finished the 2017 season ranked No. 14 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I-II Poll, will play 12 matches against teams that were ranked in the final poll, according to the schedule announced today by head coach Mark Hulse.
 
"We are excited to be able to bring several high-level volleyball matches to Gentile Arena for our fans," Hulse said. "Once again, we have assembled a challenging schedule that will prepare us for MIVA play and that will hopefully ready us to compete for a berth in the NCAA tournament."
 
In addition to the 12 matches against teams that were ranked in the final 2017 AVCA Division I-II Poll, Loyola will play four contests against teams that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago, including three matches versus the national finalists, BYU and Ohio State.
 
Loyola lifts the lid on the 2018 season on January 5 when it pays a visit to 2017 NCAA runner-up BYU and one night later battles UC Irvine, which finished last year ranked No. 5 in the nation, in Provo, Utah.
 
A January 12 match against George Mason opens a nine-game homestand and kicks off a stretch in which the Ramblers will play 14 of 16 matches at Gentile Arena where they went 11-5 in 2017 and are 56-10 (.848) over the last four seasons. Also included in that nine-game homestand are matches versus three teams that were ranked in the season-ending AVCA Division I-II Poll – Long Beach State (Jan. 13), CSUN (Jan. 27) and USC (Feb. 3) – and the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opener against Quincy on February 9.
 
The Ramblers get back on the road for a weekend when they visit MIVA rivals Fort Wayne (Feb. 16) and Ball State (Feb. 17) before returning home to face McKendree (Feb. 23), defending national champion Ohio State (Feb. 24), local rival Lewis (Feb. 28), Lincoln Memorial (March 2) and King (March 3).
 
Loyola concludes the 2018 regular season by playing seven of its final nine contests away from home, starting with matches at Concordia Irvine (March 8) and Pepperdine (March 10). Four of the Ramblers' final eight games will be against teams that finished the 2017 season nationally ranked.
 
After making the short trip to Lewis on March 17, Loyola returns to Rogers Park for its final two home matches of the regular season – versus Ball State (March 22) and Fort Wayne (March 24). The Ramblers close out the regular season with four straight road contests – at Ohio State (March 29), McKendree (March 31), Lindenwood (April 5) and Quincy (April 7).
 
MIVA Tournament action kicks off with quarterfinal round play on April 14, with semifinal and championship matches slated for April 18 and 21, respectively.
 
Hulse and his staff welcome back four starters plus libero from last season's 16-win squad, including AVCA First Team All-America middle blocker Jeff Jendryk, who is the only Rambler to earn first or second team honors three or more times.
The complete 2018 Loyola men's volleyball schedule, including fall contests, follows.
 
Oct. 22 – at Lewis Tournament, All Day (Romeoville, Ill.)
Oct. 29 – Loyola Tournament, All Day (Gentile Arena)
Nov.4 – Academy VBC Collegiate Invite, All Day (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Nov. 11 – vs. Lewis, TBA (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Jan. 5 – at BYU, 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 – vs. UC Irvine, 5:30 p.m. (Provo, Utah)
Jan. 12 – George Mason, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 – Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 – Grandview, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 – Saint Francis (Pa.), 7 p.m.
Jan. 25 – UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 – CSUN, 2 p.m. (Alumni Day)
Feb. 3 – USC, 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Quincy, 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 – Lindenwood, 7 p.m.
Feb. 16 – at Fort Wayne, 6 p.m.
Feb. 17 – at Ball State, 6 p.m.
Feb. 23 – McKendree, 7 p.m.
Feb. 24 – Ohio State, 7 p.m.
Feb. 28 – Lewis, 7 p.m.
March 2 – Lincoln Memorial, 7 p.m.
March 3 – King, 7 p.m.
March 8 – at Concordia Irvine, 9 p.m.
March 10 – at Pepperdine, 9 p.m.
March 17 – at Lewis, 7 p.m.
March 22 – Ball State, 7 p.m.
March 24 – Fort Wayne, 7 p.m.
March 29 – at Ohio State, 6 p.m.
March 31 – at McKendree, 7 p.m.
April 5 – at Lindenwood, 7 p.m.
April 7 – at Quincy, 3 p.m.
April 14 – at MIVA Quarterfinals
April 18 – at MIVA Semifinals
April 21 – at MIVA Championship