Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video: Ball State Match | Purdue Fort Wayne Match
Live Stats: Ball State Match | Purdue Fort Wayne Match
 
CHICAGO (March 20, 2019) – Loyola wraps up its current road trip with its final two road matches of the regular season against No. 15 Ball State on Thursday (March 21) and No. 13 Purdue Fort Wayne two days later. The Thursday-Saturday slate poses uncommon start times, beginning with the Cardinals match set for 6 p.m. CT, followed by a 4 p.m. CT first serve at the Mastodons. Loyola defeated both teams in four sets earlier this season in Gentile Arena. A 2-0 clip to close out the road trip would mark the first time since 2015 the Ramblers swept the regular season series against both MIVA-foes.
 
Last Time Out: The Ramblers were clipped by No. 7 Lewis in four sets back on March 15 in Neil Carey Arena. The setback established Loyola as two matches back from the first place Flyers in the MIVA Standings. The Maroon and Gold boasted two players with double-doubles for the second time in three matches. Dane Leclair tallied the first of his Loyola career with 10 kills and 11 digs, which tied his personal best. Will Tischler led all participating players with 17 kills and added an even 10 digs to fifth double-double of his senior campaign. Garrett Zolg chipped in 43 assists to mark the fourth consecutive match he's tallied 40 or more – the second time this season he's done so.
 
A Look at the Cardinals: After a 1-2 non-conference showcase in Hawaii, the Cardinals returned home to defeat St. Francis (March 15) off 17 kills each from Matt Szews and Ben Chinnici. The team is fresh off a Saint Patrick's Day win against Penn State, where the squad was led with 21 kills from Szews. In his last four matches, Szews has compiled 65 kills for an average of an even 5.00 kills per set. Entering Thursday night's match, the Cardinals have a 12-10 overall record with Szews leading the team with 3.42 kills per set. That mark ranks fifth in the conference just behind Collin Mahan's 3.45. Ball State is chasing McKendree in the standings for the right to host the 4 vs. 5 quarterfinal matchup in the MIVA Tournament. The Cardinals enter Thursday 1.5 matches back of the Bearcats, but have three matches in hand.
 
A Look at the Mastodons: Purdue Fort Wayne enters Thursday on a five-match winning streak that was sparked by its straight-sets win over in-state rival Ball State (Feb 21). Reigning MIVA Offensive Player of the Week Pelegrin Vargas collected his third conference weekly award with a 19-kill performance in victories over Penn State (March 15) and Saint Francis (March 16) to pace the Mastodons. The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native leads the team with 3.67 kills per set – a clip good for third in the MIVA. Middle blocker Richie Diedrich was named the MIVA Defensive Player of the Week on March 12 and leads the Mastodons with 1.07 blocks per set. Diedrich has posted double-digit points in each of his last three matches. Purdue Fort Wayne takes on No. 7 Lewis at home prior to its clash with the Ramblers on Saturday.
 
Series Stuff: The Maroon and Gold have played Ball State and Purdue Fort Wayne multiple times each season since Loyola men's volleyball's inception in 1996. After defeating BSU back in February, the Ramblers hold a 33-23 all-time advantage, but are 8-18 on the road. The Ramblers set their program record for most digs in a match against the Cardinals with 79 back on March 31, 2000. LUC also increased its all-time series edge over Purdue Fort Wayne earlier this season, now checking in at 28-10. The Ramblers have not lost to the Mastodons in Fort Wayne since 2009 – entering winners of their last nine road tilts against the 'Dons.
 
Up Next: The Ramblers return to Gentile Arena to play out its final four regular season matches at home. The homestand begins with a Thursday-Friday series versus McKendree (March 28) and Ohio State (March 29). First serve for both contests is hit at 7 p.m.
 
#OnwardLU