CHICAGO (January 27, 2021) - After collecting a pair of wins to open the 2021 season last weekend, Loyola plays its first matches away from home when it travels to Loretto, Pa., to battle NJIT and Saint Francis (Pa.) on January 29 and 30. The Ramblers are 2-0 for the first time since 2015, which was a season that ended with the second of back-to-back NCAA championships. Friday's match against NJIT kicks off a stretch that will see Loyola play six of its next eight matches away from The Alfie Norville Practice Facility, which it is calling home for the 2021 campaign. 

Over the last 10 seasons, beginning with the 2011 campaign, Loyola has won two NCAA championships (2014, 2015), made three NCAA Final Four appearances (2013, 2014, 2015), and posted seven 20-win seasons.

Loyola has gotten off to fast starts in two of the last three seasons, going 6-1 to start 2019, and 10-2 to open the 2018 campaign. The last time the Ramblers began a season with three straight wins was 2015, when they opened the year 13-0.

Dating back to last season, the Ramblers have split their last four matches played outside of Rogers Park.

When Loyola and NJIT last met, on January 5, 2017 at Gentile Arena, Ricky Gevis produced 12 kills to lead the No. 11 Ramblers to a 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 victory. Loyola and Saint Francis (Pa.) last matched up on January 20, 2018, and the host Ramblers rolled to a 25-20, 20-15, 25-18 win behind 10 kills apiece from Jeff Jendryk and Collin Mahan.

Scouting NJIT

NJIT will be playing its 2021 season opener when it faces Loyola Friday afternoon in Loretto. A year ago, the Highlanders went 9-5 in a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and were 1-1 in neutral site matches. NJIT finished up the 2020 campaign by winning its final three matches and last season went 3-1 against MIVA members, with wins over Ball State, Lindenwood and Purdue Fort Wayne. Senior outside hitter Alvaro Gimeno led NJIT last season, hitting .353 (174-50-351) with 3.62 kills, 1.54 digs and 0.52 blocks per set, while sophomore opposite Julian Meissner put up 2.98 kills and 1.18 digs per set in 2020.  

Scouting Saint Francis

Saint Francis (Pa.) carries a two-match losing skid into this weekend's outings, and the Red Flash does have one opponent in common with Loyola thus far, splitting a pair of contests at Queens. This season, the Red Flash is winless in two matches at home, dropping a pair of contests versus King in its most recent action. Alex Finch, a redshirt freshman outside hitter, is contributing 2.50 kills and 1.10 digs per set for SFU, while redshirt freshman opposite Joshua Blair is hitting .427 (44-9-82). Loyola is 4-2 against Saint Francis (Pa.) in Loretto, but did stumble in its last trip there, losing a five-set decision in 2016.

Up Next

Loyola opens Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association play next weekend when it pays a visit to Quincy for matches on February 5 and 6.