CHICAGO (April 5, 2023) – The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team (21-4, 11-1 MIVA) closes out the 2023 regular season on the road this weekend, taking on Ball State (16-8, 9-3) on Thursday before squaring off against Ohio State (17-9, 9-3) on Saturday.
 
Thursday's clash between the 10^th-ranked Ramblers and 11^th-ranked Cardinals is set for 6 p.m. (CT) on ESPN+, while Saturday's finale against the 13^th-ranked Buckeyes is set for 4 p.m. (CT) on BTN+.
 
Loyola, who currently has a share of the regular season title, can earn the outright title with a win in either of its final two matches. The Ramblers can also lock up the outright title with one loss by Ball State and Ohio State in either of their final two matches.
 
Loyola in the National Rankings
Blocks per set – 3^rd (2.665)
Assists per set – 5^th (11.88)
Kills per set – 6^th (12.54)
Aces per set – 10^th (1.66)
Hitting percentage – 11^th (.319)
 
Individuals in the National Rankings
Points per set
Parker Van Buren – 4^th (4.84)
Cole Schlothauer – 33^rd (3.98)
 
Assists per set
Dan Mangun – 4^th (10.28)
 
Blocks per set
Nicodemus Meyer – 3^rd (1.283)
Jimmy Meinhart – 14^th (1.021)
 
Kills per set
Parker Van Buren – 5^th (4.04)
Cole Schlothauer – 33^rd (3.40)
 
Last Time Out
The Ramblers secured at least share of the MIVA regular season title with a pair of wins over Lindenwood and Quincy at home last weekend. It marked Loyola's first MIVA title since 2018 when the Ramblers were co-champs, while a win this weekend would secure Loyola's first outright title since 2014.
 
Series Stuff
Loyola improved to 39-24 all-time against Ball State with a 3-1 victory in Chicago back on Feb. 16 and have now won five straight meetings between the two programs. The Ramblers swept Ohio State, 3-0, on Feb. 18 but still trail the all-time series by a 40-26 margin.
 
Up Next
Loyola has secured a top-three seed in the MIVA championship and are guaranteed at least one home match in the upcoming MIVA Tournament. The quarterfinals of the tournament will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 inside Gentile Arena.