CHICAGO (February 9, 2023) – The 13th-ranked Loyola men's volleyball team (7-2) will open Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play this weekend with road matches Friday at Quincy (4-4) and Saturday at Lindenwood (2-5). First serve in each match is set for 7 p.m. CT.
LAST TIME OUT
Loyola, who was selected second in the MIVA preseason poll, looks to rebound from a pair of setbacks last week in California. The Ramblers nearly dealt third-ranked Long Beach State (6-0) its first loss but came up just short in a thrilling five-setter Friday night in front of nearly 1,600 people at the Walter Pyramid. The Ramblers won the first and fourth sets each by a score of 25-23, before falling 17-15 in the deciding frame.
Parker Van Buren recorded a season-high 28 kills (.479) and four aces, while
Cole Schlothauer notched a season-best 20 kills and nine digs. Setter
Dan Mangun registered a career-best 49 assists.
SERIES STUFF
Loyola is 56-4 in the all-time series with Quincy, including 26 straight wins and four consecutive 3-0 sweeps over the Hawks. The last Quincy win in the series came on April 15, 2011, with a five-set decision.
The Ramblers have only dropped three matches in 30 meetings (27-3) against Lindenwood, with six consecutive wins in the series. Loyola swept the most recent meeting in last year's MIVA Tournament. The last Lindenwood victory in the series was a five-set decision in the Ramblers' visit to St. Charles during the 2020 season.
SCOUTING QUINCY
Quincy, which hosts its fifth straight home match on Friday, is coming off a 3-0 loss to Grand View last weekend. Before the setback, Quincy had rattled off three wins in a row with sweeps over Maryville, Missouri S&T and Saint Ambrose. Sophomore opposite Raje Alleyne leads the team with 4.60 kills per set and team-best nine aces, with double-digit kills in six of eight matches this season. Head coach Caren Kemner, now in her second season at Quincy, has already led the Hawks to the same number of wins recorded last season (4-19).
SCOUTING LINDENWOOD
Lindenwood, which plays host to Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, will close out a four-match homestand against the Ramblers on Saturday. Both wins for the Lions have been recorded on their home court, including a pair of sweeps over Missouri S&T and NJIT. Freshman opposite Ian Schuller leads the team at 3.36 kills per set, along with senior outside hitter A.J. Lewis at 3.14 kills per set. Joe Kosciw is in his sixth season leading the Lindenwood men's volleyball program.
UP NEXT
Loyola will host its MIVA home opener next Thursday, Feb. 16, against defending league champion Ball State, before welcoming in Ohio State two nights later on Saturday, Feb. 18.
