CHICAGO (September 5, 2022) - Winner of two of its last three matches, Loyola faces its second nationally ranked team of the young season when it makes a short trip north to battle Jesuit rival Marquette Tuesday evening. The Ramblers have played a grueling schedule to this point, with six of their first seven opponents, including Marquette, having been 20-match winners last fall. Three of Loyola's first six foes this season compete in Power conferences.

Kelsey Watson, who leads Loyola with 1.25 blocks per set and also owns a .343 hitting percentage (16-4-35) this season, is hitting .347 (37-11-75) in her last seven matches versus non-conference opponents.

Junior libero Grace Hinchman recorded her 1,000th career dig in the Ramblers' five-set loss at Tennessee on August 26. She is the first Rambler since Maddy Moser did so in 2018 to record her 1,000th career dig.

Loyola is looking to collect its first win over a nationally ranked foe since taking down No. 9 Illinois in five sets on September 14, 2004 at Alumni Gym in Chicago. The Ramblers, who fell to No. 13 Purdue at the Tennessee Classic on August 26, have dropped 12 straight matches to ranked opponents and are looking for their first win in program history against a top 25 team on the road.

Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, Loyola is 29-3 (.906) when winning the first set of a match. Last season, the Ramblers posted an 18-1 (.947) ledger in matches when they captured set one.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Murczek, who has started the last two matches, posted 14 kills in last Saturday's five-setter at Michigan. That was her highest output since blasting 14 kills against Drake on March 28, 2021. Over the last two outings, Murczek is hitting .224 (20-7-58) and delivering 2.50 kills, 1.88 digs and 0.63 blocks per set.

Esma Ajanovic has stepped up in a big way over the last few matches and in three contests at the Michigan Invitational, averaged 2.33 kills and 0.50 blocks per set, while hitting at an impressive .364 (28-8-55) clip. For the season, the sophomore lefthander is hitting .379 (34-9-66) with 2.43 kills and 0.50 blocks per set.

Over the last pair of contests, junior Anna Feldkamp has posted a scorching .353 (13-2-28) hitting percentage and is producing 1.63 kills and 0.88 blocks per set. In Saturday's match at Michigan, the right side/middle blocker hit .471 (9-1-17) and recorded season highs with nine kills and four blocks.

Scouting Marquette

Marquette has faced a challenging slate so far this season, having split a pair of contests versus ranked opponents. The Golden Eagles, who posted a 26-win campaign in 2021, dealt No. 11 Kentucky a 3-2 defeat in the 2022 season opener on August 26, and last Friday suffered a four-set loss to sixth-ranked Wisconsin. Marquette, which is coming of a 3-1 victory over High Point Sunday night, has had a busy stretch and Tuesday's contest will be its third in the last five days.

Jenna Reitsma, a sophomore outside hitter, is averaging 2.75 kills, 2.31 digs and 0.38 aces per set for the Golden Eagles, who are also receiving 2.81 kills, 1.63 digs and 0.69 blocks per set from junior outside hitter Aubrey Hamilton, who is in her first season at Marquette after transferring from Notre Dame. Hamilton was an Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team selection in 2020-21 after leading the Fighting Irish in kills and points that season.

Loyola has dropped five of its last six meetings with Marquette, including each of the last four, and is after its first win against the Golden Eagles since sweeping them on September 18, 2004 in Milwaukee. 

Up Next

Loyola hosts the Hampton Inn Chicago – North Loyola Station Rambler Challenge, September 9 and 10. Kansas State, Rutgers and St. Thomas join the Ramblers in the four-team field.