CHICAGO (February 11, 2021) - Off to its best start (4-1) through five matches since 2012, when it won its first five outings, Loyola returns to The Alfie Norville Practice Facility Sunday and Monday to host longtime rival Evansville. Should the Ramblers sweep this weekend's series, it would give the program its best start through seven contests since 2008, when it opened the year with eight straight wins.

Loyola has won four of its last five Missouri Valley Conference home matches and is 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 league contests played at home. The Rambler also are 17-5 (.773) in its last 22 regular season MVC contests.

In the last two matches, the Ramblers have fielded a potent attack that is hitting .282 (89-32-202) after posting a .131 (164-92-548) mark in the first three outings of 2021.

Fast starts in Valley play have been the norm in head coach Amanda Berkley's two previous seasons in Chicago. A year ago, Loyola jumped out to a 6-0 start in Valley play, its best in conference action since 2001, when it commenced Horizon League competition with a 7-0 ledger. In Berkley's first season on the Ramblers' bench in 2018, she guided the Maroon and Gold to a 3-0 start in MVC matches. This year, Loyola is off to a 3-1 start in league competition.

The Ramblers have prevailed in seven of their last nine matches that have gone the full five sets, capturing each of the last seven outings that have gone the distance. Loyola is 2-0 in five-set affairs this season.

Loyola – Evansville – The Series

Loyola has won nine of the last ten matchups with Evansville, including each of the last five, and holds a commanding 28-7 edge in the all-time series. Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference for the 2013 season, the Ramblers have captured 11 of the 14 meetings between the teams and are 5-2 at home against the Purple Aces. All time, Loyola is 11-3 against Evansville when playing in Rogers Park. When these teams last met, on November 1, 2019 at Gentile Arena, Addie Barnes delivered 13 kills and 15 digs to send the Ramblers to a 25-18, 25-16, 25-15 victory.

Scouting Evansville

Evansville has lost its last three outings after starting the year by winning two of its first three contests. The Purple Aces have played only two true road matches this season and split those matchups, winning their season opener at Indiana State and falling at No. 24 Western Kentucky. Outside hitters Alondra Vazquez (3.59 kills and 2.77 digs per set) and Melanie Feliciano (3.41 kills and 2.86 digs per set) form a potent tandem and the duo has accounted for 65 percent of Evansville's total kills this season. Evansville, which hits .160 as a team, also receives 1.27 blocks per set from sophomore middle blocker Hannah Watkins.

Up Next

Loyola looks to build off the momentum it generated on the road with a sweep of Southern Illinois when it travels to Indiana State for matches on February 21 and 22.