Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video: McKendree Match | Ohio State Match
Live Stats: McKendree Match | Ohio State Match
 
CHICAGO (March 27, 2019) – The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team is back in Gentile Arena for the remainder of the regular season and kick-starts the final stretch with a Thursday-Friday slate. This week's opponents features the McKendree Bearcats (March 28) and the Ohio State Buckeyes (March 29). The Ramblers (15-7, 8-2 MIVA) enter Thursday one match back of Lewis in the race for the MIVA Regular Season Championship, with each program having four remaining.  
 
Last Time Out: The Ramblers picked up two road wins against No. 15 Ball State and No. 13 Purdue Fort Wayne last weekend to sweep the regular season series versus the two Indiana-based programs. Garrett Zolg maintained the conference's top assist per set average this season by tallying 81 helpers (11.57 per set) to surpass 2,000 career assists. The sophomore is averaging 10.32 assists per set in the month of March. Paul Narup registered 10 blocks (one solo) in his two matches of work to eclipse 300 for his career.
 
A Look at the Bearcats: At 11-9 (6-4, MIVA), McKendree enters the weekend tied for third place in the MIVA standings and two full matches back from Loyola for the second spot. The Bearcats are fresh off the BYU Invite where they took two of their three scheduled matches, including a four-set upset over the eighth-ranked host Brigham Young University. The triumph over the Cougars is the highest ranked opponent McKendree has beaten in program history. Bearcats setter Brian Serrano was named the MIVA's Defensive Player of the Week on March 26 after posting 22 digs for an average of 2.20 per set. The redshirt-freshman enters Thursday fifth in the MIVA with 8.96 assists per set.
 
A Look at the Buckeyes: LUC head coach Mark Hulse stated that his team caught Ohio State at "less than full strength" during their first matchup back on February 24, but the notable Buckeyes' household names that were sidelined due to injury have since returned to the lineup. After a seven match absence, Jake Hanes has tallied enough attacks to qualify for the MIVA lead in kills per set at 4.14, which makes him the only player in the conference to post an average above four. 2018 MIVA First Team selection Sanil Thomas is also back in the lineup after missing 12 OSU matches this season. The setter is averaging 11.15 assists per set in his last four matches.
 
Series Stuff: The previous 2019 Loyola-McKendree matchup in Lebanon was the 10^th all-time meeting and just the second time the Bearcats managed to capture a set. The Ramblers enter Thursday's meeting with a 10-0 head-to-head record and a hold a 5-0 mark in Chicago. Loyola has fared much better against Ohio State at home than on the road, entering Friday with a 13-11 advantage in matches played in Rogers Park. The previous time the Buckeyes were in town was Loyola's 3-2 thrilling win last season where the team rallied to secure a reverse sweep.

Up Next: The Maroon and Gold finish off the regular season with two more home matches next weekend (April 5-6) versus Lindenwood and Quincy. The match against the Hawks on April 6 will serve as the annual Senior Night where the six men's volleyball student-athletes in the Class of 2019 will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
 
#OnwardLU