Rambler Challenge Game Notes
Loyola Live Stats vs. Fairfield (Sept. 1)
Loyola Live Stats vs. Milwaukee (Sept. 2)
Loyola ESPN3 Video vs. Milwaukee (Sept. 2)
Loyola Live Stats vs. Samford (Sept. 3)

CHICAGO (August 30, 2017) - After opening the season at the Cal Molten Classic in Berkeley, Calif., last weekend, Loyola returns home to host the Rambler Challenge at Gentile Arena, September 1-3. The Ramblers are 6-4 at home in non-conference matches under seventh-year head coach Chris Muscat. September has been a kind month to Loyola over the last two seasons as it has posted an 18-7 (.720) record, including an 11-1 mark in 2015.
 
Scouting the Rambler Challenge Field
Fairfield enters the tournament with a 2-1 record and owns victories over Boston College and UAB this season. Skyler Day leads the Stags with 5.36 kills per set. A year ago, Fairfield went 28-6 overall and 18-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), reaching the NCAA Tournament. This will be the first meeting between the Ramblers and Stags since 2008 when Loyola earned a 25-14, 21-25, 25-1225-27, 15-9 victory in DeKalb, Ill.
 
Milwaukee has a busy start to the season, having played four matches in the first four days of the year. Junior outside hitter Caitlin Schultz paces the Panthers with 3.81 kills per set and as a team, Milwaukee is hitting at a .267 clip. Senior middle blocker Jess Kalous is hitting a robust .418 (33-5-67) this season. UWM is coming off of a three-game sweep of Northern Illinois on Monday night.
 
Samford brings a 1-2 record into the weekend and is led by junior outsider hitter Krista Boesing (4.08 kills per set). The Bulldogs are playing their first road games of the year and have lost two straight following a season-opening win over Southeastern Louisiana. This is the first-ever meeting between Loyola and Samford and the Ramblers are 4-0 all-time versus current members of the Southern Conference.
 
Elle of A Debut
Freshman Elle Van Grinsven had an impressive, hitting .378 (20-6-37) and totaling 20 kills in three matches at the Cal Molten Classic last weekend. The 6-foot-1 middle blocker tallied nine kills and a pair of blocks in her collegiate debut in a four-set loss to Seattle on August 25 and was named to the Cal Molten Classic All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the two-day tournament.
 
Through three matches, Van Grinsven ranked second on the team in kills (20), was tied for third in blocks (6), and paced the club with a .378 hitting percentage.
 
A second-team all-state selection and Wisconsin Little Ten Conference Player of the Year selection as a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran High School last season, Van Grinsven graduated as the school's all-time leader in kills with 1,500, while also racking up 393 total blocks and 194 service aces.

Up Next
Loyola makes a short trip up the lakefront to Milwaukee where it will compete in the Marquette Invitational, September 8-9.