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CHICAGO (April 20, 2018) - The top two seeds meet Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio, when No. 2 seed Loyola visits top-seeded Ohio State in the championship match of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament. This is the first time the Ramblers and Buckeyes are meeting in the MIVA final since 2011 when the Buckeyes earned a 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-17 victory at St. John Arena.  Loyola is making its first MIVA final appearance since 2015.

Scouting Ohio State

Seventh-ranked Ohio State has won 11 of its last 12 outings since suffering a five-set loss to Loyola in Chicago on February 24. The Buckeyes have dropped only 11 sets in their last 12 matches and are 12-1 at home this year, with the lone setback coming to BYU on January 13.

Loyola and Ohio State are meeting for the 15th time in MIVA Tournament play and the Ramblers are 4-10 in those previous 14 matchups, with three of those coming in the championship match. The Ramblers are just 4-23 all-time in matches against the Buckeyes in Columbus.

Ohio State has a balanced attack that features three players with 300 or more kills - Nicolas Szerszen (342), Jake Hanes (332) and Maxime Hervoir (324).

The Spirit of St. Louis

St. Louis area native Paul Narup ranks among national leaders in blocks per set with 1.06 and is hitting .458 (156-21-295) this season. Over the last five contests, the 6-foot-7 middle blocker is hitting a sparkling .500 (35-3-64). In two matches versus Ohio State this year, Narup is contributing 1.56 kills and 1.22 blocks per set, while converting attacks at a remarkable .591 (14-1-2) clip. He is posting 1.71 blocks per set in MIVA Tourney play this season.