CHICAGO (January 4, 2023) – Loyola University Chicago head men's volleyball coach
John Hawks, along with assistant coaches
Ali'i Keohohou and
Scott Kevorken, announced the program's 2023 signing class.
The nine-member freshman class will join the Ramblers at the start of the 2023-24 school year, a group that features Aidan Klein (Evanston, Ill.), Daniel Fabikovic (Breclav, Czech Republic), Lukas Anderson (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Gavin O'Brien (Naperville, Ill.), Tyler Howard (Anaheim Hills, Calif.), Jake Read (Newport Beach, Calif.), Liam Phinizy (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Charlie Ledford (San Diego, Calif.), and Cole Schobel (Costa Mesa, Calif.).
"The staff and I are very excited to announce our first signing class," Hawks said. "This is a group of men made up of incredible student-athletes who are all extremely talented and equally competitive. We've added depth and high volleyball IQ at every position. This class will immediately contribute to the tremendous culture being exhibited in our gym. We welcome these young men and their families joining our Rambler family next fall as we look to continue building upon the great tradition of Loyola men's volleyball."
LUKAS ANDERSON
Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Loyola HS | MB Surf
6-foot-4 opposite … Plays for head coach Michael Bohele at Loyola High School … Named to the All-Mission League Team … Helped lead the Cubs to back-to-back CIF State Southern California Regional Finals … Made an appearance in the 2022 CIF Southern Section Championship … Loyola finished the past two seasons atop the CIF Division I Top 10 poll … Plans to study business at Loyola … One of three siblings … Both parents played collegiate volleyball … His mother, Anne, helped lead Hofstra to a conference championship.
DANIEL FABIKOVIC
Breclay, Czech Republic | Black Volley Beskydy
6-foot-6 outside hitter … Helped U-18 Czech Republic national team earn silver medal at European Championships … Plays under head coach Michal Provaznik at Sportovní gymnázium Dany a Emila Zátopkových Ostrava … Participated in 2021 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour … Plans to pursue a degree in business at Loyola … One of two siblings … His sister, Andrea, played for the U-17 national team in European Championship … Both parents played professional volleyball in Czech Republic … His mother, Lenka, now coaches for Czech Volleyball Federation.
TYLER HOWARD
Anaheim Hills, Calif. | Canyon HS | Pulse Athletics Club
6-foot-4 outside hitter … Plays for Matthew Silva at Canyon High School … Team's Offensive Player of the Year last season … Voted Century Conference Crestview League MVP … Named to 2022 All-CIF Southern Section Division 2 Team and All-County Boys Volleyball Third Team … Posted 134 kills, 27 bocks and 23 service aces … Also played basketball at Canyon, helping the Comanches reach the CIF Southern Section 2AA quarterfinals in 2022 … Plans to study sports business and management at Loyola … One of two siblings … Honored on school's "Top of the Tribe" academic list with GPA over 4.0.
AIDAN KLEIN
Evanston, Ill. | Evanston Township HS | MOD Volleyball Club
6-foot-9 middle blocker … Named to Class of 2023 (17U) JVA Boys All-National Team … Listed on USA Volleyball Great Lakes Region Team … Participated in 2022 National Team Development Program spring training… Earned recognition on 16U BJNC All-National Team … Plays under head coach Stanley Antoine at Evanston High School … Currently undecided on a major at Loyola … Honor Roll student and member of National Honors Society … One of three siblings … His mother, Megan, graduated from Loyola and his father, Alex, played basketball at William & Mary.
CHARLIE LEDFORD
Libero | San Diego, Calif. | Cathedral Catholic HS | Wave
6-foot-2 libero … Plays for Pat Boner at Cathedral Catholic High School … Will earn eight total varsity letters combined in indoor and beach volleyball … As a junior, he earned San Diego City Conference All-League First Team and second-team All-CIF San Diego Section honors … Led the Dons to the CIF San Diego Section Open Division Championship and advanced to the state tournament … Plans to study finance at Loyola … Carries a GPA over 4.0 … One of two siblings … His father, Jason, played collegiate baseball at San Diego State.
GAVIN O'BRIEN
Naperville, Ill. | Neuqua Valley HS | Sports Performance
6-foot-8 middle blocker … Plays for Erich Mendoza at Neuqua Valley High School … Named to All-Dupage Valley Conference Team … Selected to All-Dupage County First Team … As a junior, he recorded 165 kills, 51 blocks, 12 service aces and .302 hitting percentage … Plans to pursue a degree in marketing at Loyola … One of three siblings … Has an older sister that currently attends Loyola.
LIAM PHINIZY
Huntington Beach, Calif. | Huntington Beach HS | Pulse VB
6-foot-6 outside hitter … Plays for Craig Pazanti at Huntington Beach High School … Named 2021 All-CIF Southern Section First Team outside hitter as a sophomore … Helped lead the Oilers to the 2021 CIF State Southern California Regional Division 2 championship with 27 kills in the title match … 2021 CIF Division 2 runner-up finish … Major contributor for Huntington Beach's move up to Division 1 last season and fifth-place finish in the final CIF-Southern Section Top 10 Poll … Plans to pursue a degree in entrepreneurship at Loyola … AP English and AP Psychology student … One of three siblings … His sister, Sabrina, plays professional volleyball in Sweden.
JAKE READ
Newport Beach, Calif. | Newport Harbor HS | Balboa Bay 18 Blue
6-foot-4 outside hitter … Plays for Andrew Mabry at Newport Harbor High School … Earned back-to-back All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 First Team recognition … Led the Sailors to the CIF State Southern California Regional Final the past two seasons, including a championship in 2022 behind Read's 18 kills (.640) in the title match … Averaged nearly five kills and two digs per set during junior campaign … Named
Orange County Register's Boys Athlete of the Week (5/24/22) … Scholar-Athlete all four years … Also played basketball … Plans to study business while attending Loyola … One of four siblings … His brother, Brendan, currently plays volleyball at Pepperdine … His father, Jeff, played club volleyball at Cal Berkeley.
COLE SCHOBEL
Setter | Costa Mesa, Calif. | Mater Dei HS | Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
6-foot-1 setter … Plays for head coach Jake Nuneviller at Mater Dei High School … Four-year varsity team member and two-year varsity team captain … Named Trinity League MVP and All-Trinity League First Team performer as a junior … Helped lead Mater Dei to back-to-back league titles and second place ranking in final 2022 CIF-SS Top 10 Poll … Listed on 2022 Volleyball Recruiter 17s All-American Team … Voted 2022 SoCal Cup MLK Invitational 17 Open Tournament MVP and 2021 SoCal Cup Showcase 16 Open Tournament MVP … Plans to study business while attending Loyola … One of four siblings … His mother, Stacey, played collegiate volleyball at Utah State.
