Game Notes

Live Video vs. Ohio State | Live Stats vs. Ohio State

Live Video vs. McKendree | Live Stats vs. McKendree

CHICAGO (March 28, 2018) - Loyola opens up a pivotal weekend of Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) action Thursday night when it travels to No. 9 Ohio State. The Ramblers enter the week with a one-game lead over the Buckeyes in the MIVA regular-season standings with only four matches left to play. The Ramblers are trying to sew up their first regular-season MIVA crown since 2014. Loyola owns an impressive 17-2 mark over its last 19 matches, with both of those defeats coming away from the friendly confines of Gentile Arena.  The Ramblers are 4-1 in true road matches versus nationally ranked foes. Senior Ricky Gevis was impressive last week, producing 3.67 kills and 1.50 digs per set, while hitting .400 (22-4-45), in a pair of three-set wins over MIVA rivals Ball State and Fort Wayne. The opposite has totaled double-digit kills in 10 of the last 17 matches.
 
Scouting Ohio State
After a rough road trip to the Chicago area in late February, when it suffered consecutive losses to Lewis and Loyola, Ohio State has reeled off six straight wins, and is coming off of a come-from-behind, 25-22, 24-26, 24-26, 29-27, 15-11 victory at Lindenwood on March 25. The Buckeyes are 8-1 at St. John Arena this season, with the lone setback coming at the hands of then No. 6 BYU (25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 8-15). OSU has claimed seven straight victories at home. and Loyola will be seeking its first win in Columbus since March 14, 2015, when it collected a three-set win. 
 
Nicolas Szerszen and Jake Hanes lead the Buckeyes with 3.60 and 3.59 kills per set, respectfully. 
 
Scouting McKendree
McKendree has captured three of its last four contests and is coming off of a 25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24 victory over Princeton last Friday. The Bearcats take a 6-5 record at home into this week's action.
 
Loyola has dominated the all-time series, winning each of the previous eight matches, while not dropping even a single set in those outings. When the teams met last month in Chicago, Ryan Jamison and Collin Mahan ripped 10 kills apiece to lead Loyola to victory.
 
Nolan Rueter spearheads the Bearcats attack with a team-leading 2.68 kills per set, to go with 1.77 digs and 0.52 blocks per set.
 
Up Next
Loyola closes out the 2018 regular season next weekend when it travels to Lindenwood (April 5) and Quincy (April 7).