Game Notes

Live Video vs. George Mason | Live Stats vs. George Mason

Live Video vs. Long Beach State | Live Stats vs. Long Beach State

CHICAGO (January 10, 2018) - After an impressive showing on the opening weekend of play last week, Loyola returns to Chicago to play its first home matches of 2018. Friday's showdown with George Mason kicks off a stretch of nine straight home matches for the Ramblers, who will play 14 of their next 16 contests at Gentile Arena. Loyola opened the 2018 season by taking down No. 3 BYU in five sets last Friday for its first-ever win over the Cougars in Provo, Utah. The win is Loyola's first-ever versus a Top 10 squad in a season opener on the road. Under third-year head coach Mark Hulse, the Ramblers are now 12-17 versus nationally ranked opponents.
 
Scouting George Mason
After opening the season by defeating Limestone, George Mason stumbled in back-to-back matchups with Grand Canyon last weekend. As a team, the Patriots are hitting .206 (128-66-301) this season and are led by redshirt senior outside hitter Christian Melias, who has pounded out 23 kills, although 16 of those came in a match against Grand Canyon last weekend.
 
Loyola and George Mason are meeting for the 20th time and the Ramblers hold a commanding 15-4 edge in the series. The Ramblers have prevailed in 10 of the last 11 meetings between the teams, including a five-set win in Fairfax, Virginia last January, behind 11 kills from Jeff Jendryk.
 
Scouting Long Beach State
Long Beach State brings a perfect record (4-0) into this weekend's matches and the 49ers have dropped just one set through their first four outings. Long Beach will be playing its first true road matches of 2018 this weekend, but is 3-0 on neutral floors this year.
 
Junior outside hitter TJ DeFalco leads the 49ers with 3.31 kills and 1.85 digs per set and as a team, Long Beach State is hitting a robust .418 (170-40-311).
 
This is the fifth meeting between Loyola and Long Beach State and the Ramblers are winless through the first four encounters. Long Beach State is making its first-ever trip to Gentile Arena.
 
Up Next
Loyola hosts Grand View on January 19.