CHICAGO (January 28, 2021) - Fresh off its first win in a season opener since 2015, the Loyola women's volleyball team closes out a brief two-match homestand Friday evening when it hosts former conference mate, Butler. Following the showdown with the Bulldogs, which also happens to be the Ramblers' only non-conference contest of the spring 2021 campaign, Loyola will head to Valparaiso Monday to wrap up the regular-season series with the Crusaders. A win over Butler would give the Ramblers their first 2-0 start since 2012 when they won their first five outings on the way to a 17-12 record.

Dating back to the 2019 season, Loyola has prevailed in four of its last five matches versus teams from outside the Missouri Valley Conference.

When playing at home, Loyola has won eight of its last ten matches.

Scouting Butler

A season ago, Butler posted a 14-16 record, but finished the season on a positive note, winning three of its final four matches. The Bulldogs went 5-7 overall on the road in 2019, but were winless in three non-conference matches played on enemy courts. Redshirt junior middle blocker Melody Davidson is Butler's top returnee, and last season, she registered 1.87 kills and 1.17 blocks per set, while hitting at a .274 (215-66-544) clip. Butler has taken the last six meetings with Loyola since the Ramblers earned a five-set win on October 11, 2009 and Loyola has been tripped up in each of its last two matchups with the Bulldogs in Rogers Park.

Scouting Valparaiso

Valparaiso is coming off a 14-20 season in 2019 in which it won two of its final three and three of its final five matches. Head coach Carin Avery's squad dropped its 2021 spring season opener last week, falling at Loyola in five sets despite 12 kills and 12 digs from Bella Ravotto. First Team All-MVC senior middle hitter Peyton McCarthy leads this year's Valpo squad and is coming off a 2019 campaign in which she tallied 2.85 kills and 0.90 blocks per set, hitting .260 (362-138-860). Meanwhile, junior outside hitter Jillie Grant put up 2.49 kills and 2.57 digs per set in 2019.

Up Next

Loyola plays a pair of matches at Southern Illinois, February 7 and 8.