CHICAGO (Jan. 14, 2022) – After a two-game stint in Hawaii, the No. 8 Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team is back in Gentile Arena for the first time since the 2020 season. This opening weekend will feature a match on Friday against the Saint Francis University Red Flash and another on Saturday against the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The trip to Honolulu was nothing short of excitement. The Ramblers gave a fight to the No. 1 Rainbow Warriors, although they left with a 0-2 record. 
 
Colton Brooks and Cole Schlothauer were two big pieces for the Ramblers on both offense and defense. The all-around outside hitters produced almost half of the teams kills and digs, showing the impact they make on both sides of the ball. Brooks also had the best blocking performance on the team with four solo blocks and one assisted block for a total of five. 
 
Redshirt freshman Parker Van Buren and senior Andrew Lyons also helped the Ramblers against this strong Hawaii team. Van Buren was second on the team in kills with 19 across the seven sets while accumulating four blocks on the right side. Lyons hit an impressive .417 (11 kills, two errors, 19 attempts) while also registering three blocks. 
 
LOYOLA/SAINT FRANCIS SERIES
These two teams have not played since the start of the 2021 spring season. The Red Flash took the game to five sets on their home court, but the Ramblers still came out with the win. Looking at the history between these two teams, Loyola is the dominate party. They won 14 of the 16 matches they played against one another. 
 
So far this season, the Red Flash played Division III Juniata and MIVA foe No. 11 Ohio State. During these matches, Saint Francis swept Juniata in their exhibition game and lost to the Buckeyes in three. 
 
Joshua Blair and Thomas Leahey are two of the main contributors returning for the Red Flash this season as they received Preseason All-EIVA honors. Blair led Saint Francis in blocks and aces last season while Leahey was a leader on offense. Blake Lipardo is also returning for the Red Flash as he led the offense against Ohio State in their first match of the season. From last year, Saint Francis lost their All-American outside hitter Michael Fisher, who led the team in kills with 265. The next player to be remotely close to this number was Blair with 182.
 
LOYOLA/NJIT SERIES
The Highlanders of NJIT will only have one match in this season before showing up to Gentile as they play the No. 9 Lewis University Flyers on Friday, Jan. 14, before making their way to the city of Chicago. These two teams played eight matches in total, and Loyola has won all of them.
 
The Highlanders finished 2021 campaign with a 13-6 record. They began last season 10-3, which was the best start for NJIT since the 2007 season. Returning to the roster are four players who earned All-EIVA honors last season including Julian Meissner, Martin de Chavarria, Joe Kennedy and Griffin Fiesler. Fieseler was also named an Off the Block Freshman All-American while Head Coach Donny Goncalves earned EIVA Coach of the Year honors.
 
WHEREABOUTS
Both games will take place in Gentile Arena beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday against the Red Flash and Saturday against the Highlanders. Both games will be featured on ESPN+.