Game Notes
Live Video at Indiana State | Live Stats at Indiana State
Live Video at Evansville | Live Stats at Evansville

CHICAGO (October 2, 2019) - Fresh off a pair of victories to open Missouri Valley Conference play, Loyola plays its first league road games of the season this weekend when it travels to Indiana State and Evansville. A win at Indiana State Friday night would allow the Ramblers to match last year's 3-0 start to Valley play. Loyola has not opened conference play, regardless of league affiliation, with four straight victories since opening Horizon League action at 5-0 in 2002. After opening the year with a 3-5 ledger, the Ramblers have emerged victorious in six of their last seven matches. That seven-match stretch is the program's best since also going 6-1 August 31 through September 15, 2018.

Last season, Loyola swept the regular-season series from both Evansville and Indiana State, going 4-0 and dropping just three sets in those four outings. 

Elle is Doing Swell

Elle Van Grinsven notched her first double-double of the season in the win over Drake Monday, totaling 12 kills and a career-best 12 blocks, which tied for the fourth-highest, single-match total in program annals. The junior middle blocker is averaging a remarkable 3.00 blocks per set in Valley play and in her career, Van Grinsven is hitting .303 (86-23-208) versus Indiana State and Evansville, while posting 2.69 kills and 1.06 blocks per set.
 

Scouting Indiana State

Indiana State has lost three straight outings, all in Valley play, following a modest two-match win streak that produced its only victories of 2019. The Sycamores have split their only two contests at ISU Arena this fall, knocking off IUPUI (Sept. 17) before falling to Bradley earlier this week. ISU boasts a balanced offensive attack that features four players with over 100 kills, led by junior outside hitter Nikkie White with 106 (2.72 kills per set). Loyola has won the last two meetings with Indiana State, earning a season series sweep a year ago, and has prevailed in two of the last three matchups in Terre Haute.

Scouting Evansville

With 11 victories already this year, Evansville has posted its highest total since 2011 when it won 14 contests. The Purple Aces, who feature a three-pronged attack spearheaded by outside hitters Melanie Feliciano (4.77 kps) and Rachel Tam (4.43 kps), are a spotless 5-0 at Meeks Family Fieldhouse this season, with three of those wins coming in five-set fashion. Evansville leads the MVC in both kills and assists per set this season. The Ramblers have won seven of the last eight meetings with the Aces, including each of the last three. Loyola is 5-1 against the Aces in Evansville since joining the MVC for the 2013 season.

Up Next

Loyola returns home next weekend to host Southern Illinois (Oct. 11) and Missouri State (Oct. 12).