CHICAGO (March 9, 2023) – Riding an eight-match win streak, No. 9 Loyola (15-2, 7-0) travels to McKendree (6-8, 1-6) in Friday night MIVA action. First serve at the Melvin Price Convocation Center is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
Loyola holds a two-match lead in the MIVA standings after starting 7-0 in conference play. It's the first time since the 2014 national championship season, and the fourth time in program history, the Ramblers have won their first seven MIVA matches.
Best Loyola starts in MIVA play
2005 – 14-0 (15-1 overall)
2010 – 10-0 (10-2 overall)
2014 – 14-0 (14-0 overall)
Loyola ranks third in the nation in blocks per set (2.587), and currently ranks fifth in both aces per set (1.87) and kills per set (12.67). The Ramblers also rank eighth nationally in team hitting percentage (.322) and 11th in opponent hitting percentage (.216).
Individually,
Parker Van Buren ranks third in the nation in points per set (4.95) and sixth in kills (4.09), while
Dan Mangun ranks seventh in assists per set (10.03).
Cole Schlothauer ranks 29th in the nation in kills per set (3.48).
Defensively,
Nicodemus Meyer (1.22) and
Jimmy Meinhart (1.03) rank fourth and 18th in the nation in blocks per set, respectively.
Last Time Out
Loyola swept Queens on Tuesday, 25-20, 25-19, 26-24, to remain perfect at Gentile Arena (10-0) this season.
Colton Brooks posted a match-high 16 kills, Van Buren added nine and
Jack Yentz had five to lead the Ramblers. Brooks finished one kill off his career high, while hitting a stellar .519 (16-2-27) on the night. Loyola hit .353 overall while limiting Queens to a .222 team hitting percentage. Meyer recorded a career-high three aces, and has at least one ace in four straight matches. Mangun dished out 31 assists with three kills and four digs, while libero
Matt Oakley gathered a team-high seven digs.
Series Stuff
Loyola defeated McKendree in four sets two weeks ago in Chicago, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 25-14, as the Ramblers avenged a pair of five-set losses to the Bearcats last year. Schlothauer recorded a match-high 20 kills and Brooks secured a career-high 17 kills, while Mangun equaled his career-high in assists (49) and Van Buren registered a double-double effort with 14 kills and career-high 10 digs. Prior to the 2022 season, Loyola held a 15-0 record in the all-time series, which it now leads 16-2 over McKendree. The Ramblers are 5-1 against the Bearcats in road contests, with McKendree pulling off the reverse sweep in Lebanon last year (18-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 15-13). In that match, Van Buren posted 28 kills and Schlothauer logged a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.
Scouting McKendree
McKendree has dropped three in a row, and six of its last seven matches since conference play started. The Bearcats, who are returning to action for the first time in a week, fell in five sets at home the last time out against Lewis last Friday. Four of the Bearcats' six wins this season have come on their home court, with their last victory recorded back on Feb. 17, with a sweep over Quincy. Freshman outside hitter Bryce Wetjen ranks 11th in the MIVA in kills per set (3.08), while freshman middle Rolen Lively ranks third in the MIVA in blocks (1.17).
Up Next
Loyola returns to Gentile next Thursday for a non-conference match against Charleston (WV). The Golden Eagles (15-1) are currently ranked 14th in the country.
