CHICAGO (April 21, 2020) – Senior Kyle Piekarski (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) and redshirt freshman Cole Schlothauer (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) were recognized for their outstanding seasons this year by being voted American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-America, it was announced today. This marks the first time either Piekarski or Schlothauer has earned AVCA All-America designation in their respective careers.
 
In five seasons under the direction of head coach Mark Hulse, Loyola has now produced 13 AVCA All-America picks.
 
Piekarski, was in the middle of his best season as a collegian before the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancelation of the remainder of the year. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker ranked third in the nation with a .509 (137-21-228) hitting percentage in 2020 and was delivering 2.63 kills (137 total) and 0.88 blocks per set (46 total). Piekarski walloped a career-best 18 kills and added five blocks against Ball State on February 22 and produced double-digit kills on seven occasions. He was on a tear when the season abruptly came to a halt, averaging 2.75 kills and 0.93 blocks per set, hitting .577 (44-3-71), over the final four matches of the year.
 
Schlothauer wasted little time developing into an impact player after redshirting the 2019 campaign. The redshirt freshman outside hitter became the first freshman to pace the Ramblers in total kills since Marcos Cordova in 1996, the inaugural season of the Loyola program. His 254 total kills were the most by a Loyola freshman since Thomas Jaeschke ripped 344 kills in 2013.
 
The only freshman to earn First Team All-MIVA status in 2020, the 6-foot-5 Schlothauer is the second Loyola freshman in the last three seasons to earn AVCA Honorable Mention All-America designation, joining Garrett Zolg, who did so in 2018. This year, Schlothauer racked up 10 or more kills 16 times in 18 matches, hitting .260 (254-94-616) with 3.79 kills, 1.64 digs and 0.33 service aces per set. He blasted 20 or more kills three times, hammering home a season-best 22 stops, while hitting at a .462 clip (22-4-39), in a victory over McKendree on February 27.
 
Loyola finished a season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic with a 7-11 overall record.