CHICAGO (March 18, 2021) – Loyola (7-6, 6-6 MVC) will attempt to put an end to a three-match skid, its longest since November 2 through 10, 2018, when it makes its final road trip of the regular season and visits perennial Missouri Valley Conference power, Northern Iowa, March 21 and 22. The Panthers have struggled this season and come in at just 6-10 overall and 6-6 in Valley play. A victory over Northern Iowa would be Loyola's first ever against its league nemesis. Since winning five of their first seven MVC outings, the Ramblers have dropped four of their last five in league action.

Loyola – Northern Iowa – The Series

Northern Iowa has dominated the all-time series with Loyola, which began in 1985, winning each of the 21 meetings between the teams. In fact, the Ramblers have only been able to claim two sets in the last eight contests with the Panthers. Playing in Cedar Falls, Iowa has been no picnic for Loyola, which is winless in nine previous trips there and has only won four sets from the Panthers when playing on the road. When the teams met in 2019, Loyola dropped both matchups, 3-1, coming up on the short end of a four-set decision at McLeod Center on November 22, 2019, despite 14 kills from Addie Barnes.

Scouting Northern Iowa

Since falling in each of their first five matches this season, the Panthers have gone 6-5, with all of those wins coming in Missouri Valley play. However, Northern Iowa comes into this weekend's matchup with Loyola on a three-match slide, and was swept in a two-match series at Valparaiso last weekend. At McLeod Center this season, the Panthers are just 2-5, although they have split their last four outings there. Sophomore Emily Holterhaus spearheads the Northern Iowa attack, averaging 3.11 kills and 2.55 digs per set and Yagmur Cinel and Kaylissa Arndorfer add 2.13 and 2.11 kills per set, respectively.

Up Next

Loyola plays its final series of the regular season next weekend when it hosts Drake, March 27 and 28.