LEADING OFF
Loyola earned the Atlantic 10 automatic bid after beating No. 18 Dayton for the conference title two weeks ago. The Ramblers head to Purdue to take on No. 5-seeded BYU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It's the seventh trip to tournament for Loyola and second under head coach Amanda Berkley.

The match can be streamed on ESPN+ at 2:30 p.m. CT. The winner will advance to play at 5 p.m. CT on Dec. 6 against the winner of Purdue vs. Western Michigan.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Thursday, Dec. 5 • vs. Saint Louis • 2:30 p.m. CT
Friday, Dec. 6 • Second Round • 5 p.m. CT

QUICK HITS
• This marks the seventh NCAA Tournament appearance by the Ramblers. Loyola advanced back in 2022 under Berkley when the team won their inaugural year in the A-10.
• Loyola upset No. 18 for the A-10 title. The loss was Dayton's second of the season, first by an A-10 opponent, and first on its home court. The Flyers hadn't lost to an A-10 team since the Ramblers won the 2022 championship, 3-1. It is also the first time Dayton has been swept since Sept. 30, 2022.
• Loyola impacted the match at the net, leading 11-4 in blocks. Avary DeBlieck finished with seven total blocks, while Ann Marie Remmes had five. Esma Ajanovic tallied four, and Marta Cvitkovic three.
• Bree Borum had another double-double vs. the Flyers, posting 28 assists and 10 digs. It is her 21st of the season. Borum added eight kills.
• Borum was named the A-10 Setter of the Year for the third consecutive time. She is second in the league in assists per set (9.54) and total assists (1,045). She also ranks in digs at eighth with 3.06 per set.
• Ann Marie Remmes and Marta Cvitkovic were tabbed to the A-10 Second Team.
• Remmes ranks fifth in the A-10 in hitting percentage (.365), while Cvitkovic falls in the top-10 in kills per set, aces per set, and points per set.
• Head coach Berkley is in her eighth season at the helm. Her overall record with the Ramblers is 135-76.

SCOUTING BYU
BYU sits at 19-9 overall and posted a 12-6 finish in the Big 12 this season, which was a sixth place finish in the league. This marks the 13th straight NCAA appearance for the Cougars. BYU closed the regular season on a three-match win streak and had four players earn All-Big 12 honors.

Claire Little and Brielle Kemavor were named to the first team, while Alex Bower and Elli Mortensen brought home All-Rookie accolades. Little finished third in the Big 12 in total kills (419), kills per set (3.92) and total points (473.5), and ranks 68th nationally in kills per set. Kemavor led the Big 12 in both total blocks (164) and blocks per set (1.49), statistics she ranks No. 6 and No. 10 nationally in, respectively.

Head coach Heather Olmstead is in her 10th season at the helm. She's compiled a 257-45 overall record with the Cougars.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first ever meeting between the teams.