Game Notes
Live Stats vs. Northwestern
Live Video vs. DePaul | Live Stats vs. DePaul
Live Stats vs. UIC

CHICAGO (September 18, 2019) - Loyola competes in its final nonconference matches before Missouri Valley Conference play commences when it participates in the Chicago Cup this weekend at DePaul. City bragging rights will be on the line as the Ramblers battle Northwestern, DePaul and UIC. After getting off to a 1-3 start, Loyola has won four of its last six matches. Dating back to last season, the Ramblers have won 13 of their last 20 matches versus non-league foes. Last season, the Ramblers went 1-2 in the Chicago Cup, defeating DePaul in three sets before falling to both UIC and Northwestern in four sets. In the history of the event, Loyola has gone undefeated three times - 1995 (3-0), 2004 (3-0) and 2008 (2-0)

Taylor Made

Freshman Taylor Venuto has made quite an impression in her first three weeks as a collegiate player. The 6-foot-1 middle hitter enters the weekend ranked 12th among NCAA Division I freshmen with 1.29 blocks per set and she also leads the team in that category, as well as in kills per set (3.11) and hitting percentage (.362). Venuto has been named to the all-tournament teams at both the Hampton Inn Rambler Challenge and the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic and blasted a season-high 17 kills versus Virginia Tech September 13. Her 16 stops versus Western Kentucky August 30 were the most by a Loyola true freshman in a season opener since Morgan Reardon went for 18 kills in the 2013 lid-lifter versus Eastern Illinois. In four matches on neutral floors this season, Venuto is hitting a remarkable .479 (50-4-96) with 3.13 kills and 1.00 blocks per set. Over the last four matches, Venuto is hitting at an impressive .494 clip (46-6-81) with 3.29 kills and 1.50 blocks per set.

Scouting Northwestern

The Wildcats have won two of their last three matches and one of their two losses this season came at the hands of Stephen F. Austin, who defeated Loyola two weeks ago. junior outside hitter Nia Robinson keys the Northwestern attack with 4.12 kills per set. Former Loyola men's volleyball coach Shane Davis, who led the Ramblers to three NCAA Final Four appearances (2013, 2014, 2015) and back-to-back NCAA championships in 2014 and 2015, is in his fourth season as the head women's coach at Northwestern. Davis, who was also an All-America setter as a student-athlete at Loyola, was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

Scouting DePaul

DePaul which is off to its best start since 2013, has won each of its last five matches and is a perfect 3-0 at home this season. Included in the Blue Demons' wins are decisions over Missouri State (3-2) and Bradley (3-1). Senior right side Brittany Maxwell is the focal point of DePaul's offensive attack, averaging a team-best 3.95 kills per set, while also pitching in 2.11 digs per set. Middle hitter Donna Brown sports a team-best .450 (83-16-149) hitting percentage.

Scouting UIC

UIC has won five of its last six outings, including each of the last two, as it heads into the Chicago Cup. The Flames are coming off a four-set victory over Chicago State Tuesday night and are led by sophomore outside hitter Paola Santiago, who contributes 2.81 kills and 2.51 digs per set. As a team, UIC is averaging 2.64 blocks per set, led by Michelle Glover's 1.37 bps.

Up Next

Loyola raises the curtain on Missouri Valley Conference play September 27 when it hosts Valparaiso.