CHICAGO (March 4, 2021) - After having a pair of scheduled matches versus Illinois State last weekend postponed due to a lack of the minimum number of available players on the Redbirds, Loyola readies for a showdown with Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State. The Ramblers will be looking to play a match at The Alfie Norville Practice Facility that goes fewer than five sets as all four of their home matches have gone the full distance this season. Loyola is 3-1 at home this year.

A youthful Loyola squad has been playing short-handed for a good portion of this season. Outside hitter Addie Barnes and middle blocker Taylor Venuto, who both were First Team All-MVC selections in 2019, have missed 15 matches combined due to injuries this season and in its last outing, on February 22 at Indiana State, Loyola also was without the services of freshman middle hitter Kelsey Watson, who had taken Venuto's spot in the lineup.

Loyola is 19-7 (.731) in the last 26 regular season MVC contests and has won six of the last eight matches played on its home floor.

Through nine matches, the Ramblers' freshman class has accounted for 51 percent (233 of 455) of the team's kills and 68 percent (440 of 645) of its digs this season.

Loyola – Missouri State – The Series

Loyola and Missouri State are matching up for the 17th time in a series that dates back to 1987, and all but that initial meeting have taken place since the Ramblers joined the Missouri Valley Conference for the 2013 season. The Ramblers trail the all-time series, 12-4, but have captured three of the last four meetings, including a sweep of the season series in 2019. Although it is only 2-6 against the Bears when playing in Chicago, Loyola has taken the last two encounters at Gentile Arena, including a four-set victory on November 8, 2019, behind 13 kills and five blocks from Heather Kocken.

Scouting Missouri State

Under the direction of first-year coach Steven McRoberts, the Bears have won seven of their last eight contests, and are coming off a series sweep of Evansville last weekend. Missouri State is 3-1 in true road matches this season and split a pair of matchups at Northern Iowa three weeks ago. The Bears were one of the few teams to play matches in the fall, winning at Little Rock (Sept. 20) and at home versus Central Arkansas (Oct. 3). The outside-hitting duo of Brooklyn Cink (3.74 kills, 2.67 digs per set) and Amelia Flynn (3.70 kills, 3.37 digs per set) leads a Missouri State attack that owns a .180 attack percentage.

Up Next

Loyola travels to Bradley for a two-match series, March 14 and 15.