LEADING OFF
No. 8 Loyola Chicago (2-0, 0-0 MIVA) welcomes Saint Francis (0-3, 0-0 NEC) on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. and Rockhurst (0-2, 0-0 IVA) on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. The back-to-back matches mark the second weekend of a six-match homestand for the Ramblers.
QUICK HITS
- Sophomore outside hitter Daniel Fabikovic hit a career-high 22 kills against Maryville (Jan. 11) and led the team with 14 kills against previously ranked No. 8 Penn State (Jan. 10) to lift the Ramblers to an undefeated season opening weekend at home.
- For the first time in his career, Fabikovic was named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Offensive Player of the Week as well as the AVCA Men's National Collegiate Player of the Week on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
- Loyola hit .495 against Maryville and .267 against Penn State. The Ramblers won both matches 3-1.
- The Ramblers moved up four spots to No. 8 (prev. No. 12) in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Collegiate poll, announced on Monday, Jan. 13.
- Head coach Shane Davis is now 266-88 in the Maroon and Gold.
SCOUTING REPORT
Saint Francis opened its season with three 0-3 losses against Top 20 opponents in No. 17 UC San Diego (prev. No. 18), No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Long Beach State. After three matches, the Red Flash are hitting .134. Senior outside hitter Michael Mosbacher is the team-leader in kills (26) and junior setter Brayden Kuruzovich has logged 35 assists through three matches.
Rockhurst commenced its first season ever of men's volleyball this academic year under the leadership of head coach Corey Marks. The Hawks fell, 0-3, in their inaugural match to Lindenwood on Jan. 10 then took previously ranked No. 20 McKendree to five sets before falling 2-3. Freshmen Lucas Tran and Max Tkachev lead the team in kills with 27 and 26, respectively, while sophomore Nathan Jacques orchestrates the offense with 83 assists.
SERIES HISTORY
Loyola holds the series advantage, 15-2, over Saint Francis, with the most recent meeting, a 3-0 sweep for the Ramblers, in January 2022. The Ramblers have never faltered at home against the Red Flash. Both of Loyola's losses to Saint Francis, in 2016 and 2011, were after five sets in Loretto, Pa.
As Rockhurst makes its men's volleyball debut this season, it will be the first-ever meeting between the Ramblers and the Hawks on Saturday night.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Stream the match on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+ and follow men's volleyball on Instagram and X @RamblersMVB for in-game updates.
