CHICAGO (November 9, 2022) – With the Atlantic 10 regular season title on the line, Loyola University Chicago (21-8, 15-1 A-10) returns to Gentile Arena this weekend when it plays host to Davidson (20-7, 14-2 A-10). First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday, with both matches airing live on ESPN+.
 
The Ramblers, who are undefeated at Gentile (10-0), can secure the regular season conference title and the top overall seed in the A-10 Championship with a victory on either Friday or Saturday.
 
Loyola has reached 20 wins for the third time in five seasons, and with two more victories, the Ramblers would set a new single-season high during head coach Amanda Berkley's tenure. Last year's squad finished 22-10 (14-4 MVC) and the 2019 team went 21-11 (14-4- MVC). Loyola is a combined 21-1 inside Gentile over the past two seasons, with 11 straight home victories.
 
Loyola leads the A-10 in team hitting percentage (.248) and kills per set (13.72), along with assists (12.6), digs (12.38) and fewest kills allowed (11.14). The Ramblers currently lead the nation in team kills (1,496) and rank third in assists (1,373).
 
Karlie McNabb, who put down 15 kills in both matches at Dayton last weekend, ranks fifth in the conference in kills per set (3.16).

Three Ramblers are among the league leaders in hitting percentage including Taylor Venuto  (.381/1st), Kelsey Watson (.337/3rd), and Anna Feldkamp (.296/6th).

Defensively, Venuto (1.08) and Watson (1.05) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in blocks per set. Watson was recently selected the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 31.
 
Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, Loyola is 48-3 (.941) when winning the first set of a match.

Scouting Davidson
Davidson has won seven of eight matches after sweeping George Mason last weekend. Libero Bella Brady was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, while freshman Emma Slusser picked up her third weekly honor for Offensive Player of the Week. Two of the Wildcats' three losses have come on the road including a 3-1 setback at Saint Louis (Oct. 14) and 3-0 sweep to George Washington (Oct. 29). Sophomore Isabel Decker leads the team at 2.91 kills per set, while freshman Jackie Bardin is second at 2.63 kills per set.

Up Next
The Atlantic 10 Championship gets underway in St. Louis on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 18-20.