CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2022) – Following an outstanding performance against Saint Francis on Friday, Jan. 14, the Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team returned to Gentile Arena to take on the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders. The two teams battled during both games, but it was the Ramblers who were able to come out on top, beating the Highlanders 3-1. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Ramblers didn't have the strongest start, but that didn't affect their game play. The two teams were neck and neck throughout the entire first set. It took a service error from the Highlanders and a kill from Henry Payne to give Loyola the 25-23 win over NJIT in the first set. 
 
NJIT wanted vengeance after that. Although both teams never let the other get too far ahead, it came down to the final service run again. This time, the Highlanders were the team that benefitted as they pulled out a 25-22 win over the Ramblers in the second set. 
 
Once the Maroon and Gold came back onto the court for the third set, the dynamic changed completely. Loyola struck first off an eight-point service run from Garrett Zolg to give them a dominate lead coming back from the locker room. Along with his serves, the team hit an impressive .438 that set and kept NJIT to a -.045 hitting percentage to give them the 25-16 win in the third. 
 
At that point, the momentum was in the hands of the Ramblers. The Highlanders tried to keep themselves in the game, but there was not much they could do at that point. Loyola was in a rhythm that could not be stopped. The Ramblers ultimately won the fourth and final set 25-21 over NJIT. 
 
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Parker Van Buren continues to shine on the court during his first season in a starting role for the Ramblers. After a stellar night at the net against Saint Francis, he carried the same energy into this match. He hit an impressive .407 from the right pin, accumulating 15 kills and only four errors on 27 attempts. Along with his offensive efforts, he contributed eight blocks in the front row.
• Also hitting in the double-digits were Payne and Colton Brooks. The two outside hitters each tallied 10 kills on the night.
• Commanding the team's offensive efforts was Zolg. He finished the night with 40 assists as he distributed the ball across the net. He also excelled from the service line, ending the night with a match-high three aces. 
• Andrew Lyons was the biggest asset for the Ramblers on defense tonight. The middle blocker ended the night with 11 blocks, which is a new career high and was one shy of a top-five finish in the Loyola record books.
• In the backrow, Brooks had the strongest defensive effort as he totaled eight digs. Close behind him was Payne and Matt Oakley, who each had six digs apiece.

 
UP NEXT
The Ramblers will have the week off before they are back in Gentile on Jan. 21 and 22 as they host another weekend of matches. On Friday, Jan. 21, they will welcome Belmont Abbey, who won the Coastal Carolinas conference championship last season. First serve for that match will be at 3 p.m. 
 
The Maroon and Gold will have another quick turnaround as they get ready to take on No. 5 Long Beach State on Saturday, Jan. 22. First serve for this contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.