CHICAGO (February 18, 2021) - Eleventh-ranked Loyola, which is off to its best start since 2015, looks to stay unbeaten when it visits Ohio State for a two-match series, February 20 and 21 in Columbus. Dating back to last season, the Ramblers have prevailed in each of their last four true road matches and own a nine-match winning streak overall, which is their best since a nine-match run, April 10 through May 9, 2015, culminating with a second straight NCAA championship. At 8-0 overall, the Ramblers are off to their best start since 2015, when they took the first 13 contests of the season. 

A win over Ohio State Saturday would give the Ramblers just the sixth winning streak of 10 or more matches in program history. Loyola won 40 consecutive contests spanning two seasons, from January 17, 2014 through February 28, 2015 and had a 21-match positive streak in 2005. The Ramblers also have had a 12-game winning run in 2012, an 11-match streak in 2002 and a 10-match unbeaten stretch in 2006.

Loyola has gotten off to fast starts in three of the last four seasons, going 6-1 to start 2019, 10-2 to open the 2018 campaign and is 8-0 in 2021. The last time the Ramblers began a season with eight straight wins was 2015, when they opened the year 13-0.

Over the last four outings, Loyola is hitting a hearty .359 (173-51-340) as a team and its .334 hitting percentage this season ranks third in the nation through matches of February 14, behind only NJIT (.356) and George Mason (.343). 

Through eight outings, Loyola has gone the minimum three sets four times and sports an unblemished 5-0 ledger in those contests. A year ago, the Ramblers posted just one three-set victory, a 3-0 sweep of Urbana (Jan. 25, 2020).

Outside hitter Andrew Lyons is hitting a staggering .727 (16-0-22) with 1.60 kills per set in the last three matches.

Loyola – Ohio State – The Series

The Ramblers and Buckeyes are matching up for the 62nd time in a series that dates back to 1996, Loyola's first season as men's volleyball. Although Loyola trails the all-time series, 37-24, the Maroon and Gold has captured four straight and five of the last seven meetings between the teams. When playing in Columbus, the Ramblers are just 5-24 all time, but they have taken three of the last seven meetings there. Last season, Loyola and Ohio State met just once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Ramblers claiming a four-set victory at Gentile Arena on February 21 thanks to 17 kills from Cole Schlothauer and 13 from Devin Joslyn.

Scouting Ohio State

Since stunning then-No. 3 Lewis in four sets on February 5, Ohio State has fallen on hard times, stumbling in each of its last three matches and was swept at McKendree last weekend. The Buckeyes have split their four matches at Covelli Center this season, capturing wins over a pair of nationally ranked foes in No. 11 Penn State and No. 3 Lewis. Freshman outside hitter Jacob Pasteur has emerged as the Scarlet and Gray's top option, totaling 110 kills (4.07 per set), to go with 1.15 digs and 0.52 aces per set, while fellow rookie Sotiris Siapanis adds 3.14 kills per set. As a team, Ohio State ranks second in the MIVA with 1.78 aces per set.

Up Next

Loyola hosts Purdue Fort Wayne on February 25 at 7 p.m.