CHICAGO (August 24, 2022) - A new season of Loyola women's volleyball gets underway this weekend when the Ramblers head to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete in the Tennessee Classic hosted by the University of Tennessee. Loyola, which went 22-10 overall and captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship a year ago, will face quality competition at the Tennessee Classic, battling a pair of Power conference teams in Tennessee and No. 13 Purdue. After nine years as a member of the MVC, Loyola will compete this fall as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Under fifth-year head coach Amanda Berkley, the Ramblers are 2-2 in season openers, but have won each of their last two campaign lid-lifters. A victory over Bowling Green on Friday would give Loyola wins in three consecutive season openers for the first time since doing so in four straight campaigns from 1993-96.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Loyola has rattled off four consecutive winning seasons. The last time the Ramblers strung together four or more seasons with a record over .500 was 1997 through 2004 when they did so in eight straight campaigns. In addition, Loyola's 54 victories over the last three seasons are its most over a three-year span since 2002 through 2004 when it compiled 67 wins.

At the Tennessee Classic this weekend, the Ramblers will be in search of their first victory over a nationally ranked team since toppling No. 9 Illinois in five sets on September 14, 2004. Ironically enough, Loyola's only two wins over nationally ranked opponents have both come versus Illinois. The Ramblers, who are 2-39 all-time against ranked foes, also took down the No. 21 Fighting Illini in five sets on September 6, 2002.

Loyola is looking for its first win versus a team from a Power conference since it upended Northwestern, 3-2, on September 20, 2019.

Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, Loyola is 27-2 (.931) when winning the first set of a match. Last season, the Ramblers posted an 18-1 (.947) ledger in matches when it captured set one.

Scouting Bowling Green

Bowling Green is coming off of a 21-win season in 2021 and has won 18 of its last 22 matches. Senior outside hitter Petra Indrova paces the Falcons and had a sensational year in 2021, racking up 458 kills (4.20 kps), 292 digs (2.68 dps) and 85 blocks (0.78 bps).

Scouting Tennessee

A year ago, Tennessee notched a 20-10 overall record and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament before succumbing to Ohio State. The Volunteers got off to a fast start in 2021, winning 12 of their first 14 matches and they posted a 12-3 record overall at Thompson-Boling Arena. Right side Morgahn Fingall hit .250 (338-123-861) and provided 3.22 kills, 1.78 digs and 0.95 blocks per set last fall 

Scouting Purdue

Perennial national power Purdue collected 26 wins a season ago and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight before falling to Pittsburgh in four sets. A winner in 12 of its final 14 matches last year, the Boilermakers will be led in 2022 by sophomore middle blocker Raven Colvin, who put up 1.76 kills and 1.23 blocks per set last season, while hitting at a .348 clip (169-54-330). Purdue is looking to replace its top two players, who combined for 876 kills, last season.

Up Next

Loyola will compete at the Michigan Invitational, where it will take on Morehead State, Toledo and Michigan, September 2 and 3 in Ann Arbor, Mich.