CHICAGO (February 3, 2021) - Off to its first 4-0 start since 2015, when it wound up winning a second straight NCAA championship, Loyola opens Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association play this weekend with a pair of matches at Quincy. The Ramblers, who this week are ranked No. 13 in the NVA/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I-II Poll, have prevailed in 10 of their last 11 MIVA lid-lifters, although they did stumble in last season's league opener, falling to then-No. 10 Purdue Fort Wayne in three sets. 

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 four straight wins was 2015, when they opened the year 13-0. Strong starts in MIVA play have also been commonplace for Loyola, which has won its first two league contests seven times in the last eight seasons. 

Since the start of the 2014 campaign, the Ramblers are 35-15 (.700) in conference road matches, and have won six or more road tilts in MIVA competition four times in seven seasons.

How important has setter Garrett Zolg been to the Ramblers' success since stepping foot on campus for the 2018 campaign? In two-plus seasons quarterbacking the Loyola offensive attack, Zolg has led his team to a 48-15 (.762) record. With Zolg sidelined last year due to injury, the Ramblers limped to the first losing season in program history, going 7-11 (.389).

Head coach Mark Hulse, who is in his sixth year at the helm of the Loyola program, needs nine victories to reach 100 for his career. 

Loyola – Quincy – The Series

Loyola and Quincy are meeting for the 57th time and the Ramblers have dominated the series, winning 52 of the previous 56 meetings, including each of the last 23. In fact, the Ramblers have not dropped a match to the Hawks since April 15, 2011. Loyola is 21-3 all time versus the Hawks in Quincy and has won 10 straight there. Since March 30, 2001, the Ramblers are 44-1 against Quincy and when the teams last met, on February 13, 2020, Cole Schlothauer produced a team-high 14 kills and Devin Joslyn added 12, to help Loyola rally from a 1-0 deficit in the match to earn a 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23 victory at Pepsi Arena.

Scouting Quincy

Quincy has gotten off to a fast start, winning all nine sets from three opponents - Indiana Tech, Georgetown (Ky.) and Culver-Stockton - in building a 3-0 record. The Hawks are a perfect 3-0 at Pepsi Arena this season have held their opponents to a paltry -.023 (69-75-262) attack percentage. Senior opposite Omari Wheeler leads Quincy with 3.78 kills per set and adds 1.67 digs and 1.00 blocks per set, while hitting at a .296 clip (34-10-81). Sophomore outside hitter Michael Ladner complements Wheeler with 2.67 kills and 2.44 digs per set, and owns a .268 (24-9-56) hitting percentage. 

Up Next

Loyola hosts Lindenwood on February 12 and 13. Both matches will now start at 5 p.m. CT.