Game Notes 

Live Video vs. Grand View | Live Stats vs. Grand View

Live Video vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) | Live Stats vs. Saint Francis (Pa.)

CHICAGO (January 17, 2018) - Loyola continues a nine-match homestand when Grand View and No. 14 Saint Francis (Pa.) invade Gentile Arena this weekend. The Ramblers have won four of their last five home nonconference contests, with the lone loss coming last weekend at the hands of then No. 2 Long Beach State. Middle blocker Paul Narup is off to another fast start, hitting .588 (32-2-51) with 2.13 kills and 0.93 blocks per set through four matches. A year ago, the 6-foot-7 junior hit .530 (41-6-66) with 2.28 kills and 1.00 blocks per set through the first five contests of 2017. In Loyola's 2018 season-opening win at No. 3 BYU, Narup equaled a career high with 12 kills.
 
Scouting Grand View
Grand View, which opens its 2018 campaign on January 17 versus Ottawa, is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Men's Volleyball Coaches Preseason Top 10 Poll. The Vikings are coming off of a 25-4 season in 2017, when they finished as the NAIA National Invitational runner-up.
 
Opposite Tim Johnson, a 2017 NAIA All-American, leads the Grand View attack after putting up 296 total kills, while hitting .348, last season. Sophomore outside hitter John Chamone also provides some punch for the Vikings, and contributed 121 kills a year ago.
 
This is the first-ever meeting between the Ramblers and Vikings.
 
Scouting Saint Francis (Pa.)
Saint Francis (Pa.) has won four of its last five outings, including decisions over No. 8 Stanford and UC Santa Barbara, heading into Friday's match at No. 11 Lewis. The Red Flash has played just one true road match this season, a four-set win at UC Santa Barbara.
 
Junior outside hitter Cole Thompson leads Saint Francis (Pa.) with 70 kills (3.50 per set) this season and is adding 1.30 digs and 0.40 blocks per set, while hitting .252 (70-33-147).
 
Loyola and Saint Francis (Pa.) are meeting for the 17th time in a series the Ramblers have dominated to the tune of a 14-2 advantage. Loyola is 10-0 all-time against the Red Flash in Chicago and has not even dropped a set to SFU in the Windy City since 2009.
 
Up Next
Loyola hosts UC Santa Barbara on January 25.