CHICAGO – 3,334 fans, the largest crowd at Gentile Arena for a regular season Loyola Chicago men's volleyball match, witnessed No. 10 Loyola face off against No. 1 UCLA Saturday night. The Bruins escaped The Windy City with a straight set victory (20-25, 19-25, 21-25), but the Ramblers gained more confidence in themselves as MIVA play inches closer.

"That's the level we need to be at consistently. We played really well in moments and in spurts and times. We've had some success when we do it, we just haven't been able to do it for a whole match yet" said Loyola Chicago head coach John Hawks. "That's what we can do and that's what those teams do – they stay composed. We've got a bunch of great guys that are amazing. I feel like we'll figure it out."

How it Happened
The 'Blers (1-5) opened the action ahead, 8-4, after a pair of aces from Cole Schobel and Parker Van Buren but a 5-1 run from the defending National Champions leveled the set, 9-9. Daniel Fabikovic drew an ace after Van Buren's kill to help Loyola regain the advantage and win the race to 15 (15-14), but that would be the last time the Ramblers would lead in the first set. UCLA (4-0) racked up three-straight points to end the set, 25-20.

Fabikovic posted back-to-back kills plus an ace to give the Ramblers a 3-2 lead over the Bruins in set two. After UCLA tied the set at 3-3, another kill from Fabikovic, plus one from Jake Read, put LUC up, 5-3. The Bruins however, hitting .619 (match-high), began to regain control of the set. The 'Blers held tight though and came within one point (20-19) of UCLA, but the visitors ended the frame on a 5-0 run to win the second set.

The third and final set was in the Ramblers' control, despite them hitting -0.063. The Maroon and Gold owned a 14-12 edge thanks to a pair of UCLA errors, but the Bruins erased the deficit after a 4-0 run put them up, 16-14. The Ramblers didn't quit though and knotted the set, 21-21, after Fabikovic's kill and a UCLA error. However, the Bruins claimed the final four points in succession to win the set and match.   

Notes

• The recorded attendance of 3,334 is a program record at Gentile for a regular-season match.
• Tonight's match was the third-highest attended for any collegiate men's volleyball match thus far in the season.
• Loyola at Hawai'i on Jan. 5 is the second-highest (5,868) while Hawai'i's match with Emmanuel (5,903) is the highest attended thus far. 
• The Ramblers led the kill battle, 11-10, after first set.
• Read on 17 swings and Van Buren on 26 led Ramblers with 8 kills each.
• Schobel led Loyola with 23 assists.
• Matt Oakley posted a team-high seven digs.

Up Next
The Maroon and Gold will have some time to prepare for its next match - a 7 p.m. first serve with Kentucky State at Gentile Friday (Jan. 19). The match will stream live on ESPN+.