CHICAGO -- The Loyola University Chicago women's volleyball team returns to action this Thursday-Saturday as the Ramblers head to the Hampton Inn Invitational. Bowling Green will serve as the tournament hosts and Loyola will be joined in the field alongside Wright State and Texas A&M. Loyola will open action on Thursday against the Falcons at 6 pm (CT) before rounding out the weekend with a Friday match against Wright State (2 pm) and the tournament finale against Texas A&M on Saturday (10am). Thursday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ while the remaining two matches will be on YouTube.

In the Rankings
The Ramblers are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Loyola is 11th among the teams receiving votes and is 1-of-2 Atlantic 10 schools to be getting votes in the Top 25 (Dayton).

Upset City
Loyola picked up its first ranked win in almost two decades in the team's first tournament of the season when the Ramblers defeated No. 16 Purdue, 3-2. It was Loyola's first win over a ranked opponent since Sept. 14, 2004 when the Ramblers took down No. 9 Illinois, 3-2, in Champaign.

Defend the Crown
The Ramblers will look to defend its A-10 title as Loyola was selected to repeat as Atlantic 10 Conference Champions in the preseason poll. Loyola secured seven of the 10 first-place votes to sit atop the poll with 97 total points. Dayton, Loyola's opponent in last year's conference championship match, was picked to finish second (two first-place votes). Davidson picked up the 10th and final first-place ballot to secure third place in the preseason poll.