CHICAGO (September 15, 2021) - Loyola, which has won five of its last six matches, plays its final nonconference contests of the regular season this weekend when it makes the short trip north on Sheridan Road for the annual Chicago Cup, hosted by Northwestern. The Ramblers are looking to sweep the matches at the Chicago Cup for the first time since 2008, when they faced only DePaul and Northwestern, since Loyola and UIC were both members of the Horizon League at the time.
Under fourth-year head coach Amanda Berkley, Loyola has never entered Missouri Valley Conference play with more than eight wins under its belt. However, a sweep this weekend would send the Ramblers into Valley action with nine victories. The last time Loyola had nine or more wins heading into its league opener was 2015 when it took an 11-2 ledger into its MVC lid-lifter.
When Loyola takes on Chicago Cup host Northwestern, it will be seeking its first win versus a Power 5 conference opponent since disposing of those same Wildcats, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 17-15, on September 20, 2019 at the Chicago Cup hosted by DePaul.
The Ramblers have won five straight and seven of their last eight matches played at neutral sites. Loyola will be seeking its first true road win versus a Power 5 foe since September 3, 2016, when it earned a five-set decision at Wake Forest.
Sophomore outside hitter Karlie McNabb entered last weekend's K-State Invitational with just 12 career kills to her name, but broke out in a big way in last Friday's match versus the host Wildcats, drilling a career-best 15 kills and adding 10 digs for her first double-double as a Rambler.
Scouting DePaul
The Blue Demons have been tripped up in four of their last five outings and are coming off a four-set loss to Oakland, which Loyola defeated in the 2021 season opener. Sophomore outside hitter Jill Pressly leads DePaul with 3.74 kills and 3.23 digs per set.
Scouting UIC
UIC enters the Chicago Cup having prevailed in three of its last four matches and most recently took down Chicago State in four sets last Saturday. Loyola has stumbled in 10 of its last 11 meetings with the Flames, last emerging victorious against its city rival in four sets on November 4, 2013. The outside hitting tandem of Martina Delucchi (3.59 kps, 3.50 dps) and Paola Santiago (3.21 kps, 3.24 dps) paces the UIC offensive attack.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern, which has lost three of its last four matches at Welsh-Ryan Arena, will be playing its first home matches of the season this weekend. Coached by former Loyola All-America setter Shane Davis, who coached the Ramblers' to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2014 and 2015, the Wildcats have been felled by injuries and are led by Temi Thomas-Ailara, who provides 3.48 kills, 1.58 digs and 0.52 aces per set.
Up Next
Loyola opens up Missouri Valley Conference action next weekend when it visits Missouri State (Sept. 24) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 25).
