CHICAGO (November 20, 2019) - Loyola plays its final regular season matches of 2019 this weekend when it travels to Missouri Valley Conference leader UNI and Drake. The Ramblers, who have clinched at worst the No. 2 seed at next week's MVC Championship, had a six-match win streak halted with a four-set loss to Illinois State last Saturday. The last time Loyola, which has won eight of its last nine outings on the road, including each of the last four, suffered a defeat, it ran off six straight wins. This marks Loyola's first 20-win season since 2015 (20-14) and it hasn't won 21 or more contests since going 22-9 in 2004.
 
he Ramblers, who had never finished higher than sixth in the Valley standings prior to this year, have tied a program record with 13 conference wins, matching the 2001 and 2002 squads that each won 13 games in Horizon League play. 
 
In its last three matches, Loyola owns a .264 (158-53-398) team hitting percentage and is averaging 2.46 blocks per set.
 
Scouting UNI
UNI has prevailed in 15 of its last 16 and 18 of the last 20 matches and rides a nine-match win streak into Friday's showdown with the Ramblers. Of the Panthers' nine losses this season, four have come to teams in the top 14 in this week's AVCA Top 25 Poll and six of those setbacks are to teams in the top 30. Senior outside hitter Karlie Taylor is UNI's workhorse, averaging a whopping 4.56 kills per set to go with 3.55 digs per set. When the teams met in Chicago last month, Addie Barnes drilled 13 kills to pace the Ramblers in a 3-1 setback. Loyola has never defeated UNI in 19 previous meetings and is 0-8 all time in Cedar Falls. 
 
Scouting Drake
The Bulldogs, who have dropped five straight, are just 2-13 in their last 15 contests and have not won at home since a five-set victory over Indiana State on September 27. Emily Plock, a junior opposite hitter, is contributing 3.75 kills per set and also pitches in 1.77 digs and 0.77 blocks per set. Loyola has won five of its last six matchups with the Bulldogs at Knapp Center and in the previous meetings between the clubs on September 30 at Gentile Arena, Taylor Venuto smashed 15 kills and Addie Barnes added 14 to spark the Ramblers to a 3-1 win. Overall, the Ramblers have taken 10 of the last 13 meetings with Drake.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens play at the MVC Championship Cedar Falls, Iowa Friday, Nov. 29.