CHICAGO (September 8, 2022) - Loyola continues a busy week when it plays its first home matches of 2022 as it hosts the Hampton Inn Chicago - North Loyola Station Rambler Challenge at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers will face a pair of power five conference teams this weekend. By the end of this weekend's tournament, Loyola will have played five opponents from power five conferences and a pair of ranked teams.

Loyola has fared well at its own tournament the last three years it has been played, going 8-1 (.889) in Rambler Challenge matches since the start of the 2018 campaign. The Ramblers won the tournament title in 2018 and 2021 and finished second in 2019.

Emily Banitt didn't miss a beat last season after making a position change to right side and she's picked up where she left off, averaging 2.11 kills and 0.75 blocks per set this fall. The junior rebounded from a tough day at Michigan on September 3 to register a match-high 18 kills, the second-highest total of her career, at No. 23 Marquette Tuesday night. Banitt had 12 kills at Kansas State last year and over the last four outings, she is posting 2.31 kills per set.

Scouting St. Thomas

St. Thomas has split its last four matches, but does boast a five-set victory over Saint Louis this fall. All four of the Tommies' defeats this season have come on neutral floors and they are 2-0 in true road matches. Sophomore Lauren Gavlin leads the team with 2.78 kills per set.

Scouting Kansas State

Kansas State stumbled, falling at Central Florida in its lone road match of the young season, but is off to a strong start having won six of its first seven contests. Last season, the Ramblers and Wildcats played a five-set thriller, with KSU ultimately prevailing. Outside hitter Aliyah Carter, who had 17 kills and 18 digs against Loyola last September, leads the Wildcats with 3.36 kills and add 2.00 digs per set. As a team, Kansas State is hitting .245 (362-131-943).
 

Scouting Rutgers

Since claiming its first three outings of the season, Rutgers has lost two of its last three contests and is coming off a five-set defeat at Towson. Three of the Scarlet Knights' first six matches have gone the distance this season and Rutgers has split its first two true road games of the year. Sophomore outside hitter Alissa Kinkela is hitting .255 (87-25-243) and paces the team with 3.48 kills per set. 

Up Next

Loyola plays its final tournament of the regular season next weekend when it competes in the annual Chicago Cup at UIC's Flames Athletic Center, September 16 and 17.