CHICAGO – No. 8 Loyola Chicago remains undefeated at home after securing a dominant, 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-18), sweep over Missouri S&T on Friday, Jan. 24 inside Gentile Arena. Sophomore standout Daniel Fabikovic led the charge with a match-high 13 kills on .360 hitting and added 10 digs for his first double-double of the season.  

The No. 8 Ramblers improved to 5-0 on the season.  

How It Happened 
Set One: Loyola came out firing in the opening set, with Fabikovic hitting key kills to keep the Ramblers out front. During a 7-2 Loyola run midway through the set, Parker Van Buren served his 100th career ace to put the team up 15-9. After a pair of Miners attacking errors, the Ramblers extended the lead to 19-12 forcing a Missouri S&T timeout. After the break, Nicodemus Meyer and Jake Read combined for a pair of blocks to widen the gap. Fabikovic sealed the set with a hard kill, giving the Ramblers a 25-15 first set win and holding the Miners to .077 hitting.  

Set Two: Missouri S&T responded with more aggressive play in the second set, taking an early 5-4 lead behind a pair of kills from Nate Meyer. The Miners also stepped up their defense, with Grant Edmonds and Caleb Rohlwing combining for a block to try and slow down the Ramblers attack. Loyola regained control sparked by another ace from Van Buren and back-to-back kills from Fabikovic. Missouri S&T stayed within reach, closing the deficit to 20-18 after a Loyola attack error, but a crucial kill from Jackson Read and a perfectly placed block from Meyer and Van Buren helped clinch the set, 25-21. 

Set Three: The Ramblers looked to finish strong, and the third set saw an early 7-4 Loyola lead following a pair of kills from Bryce Robbins, who finished the night with a season-high five kills. Missouri S&T tied the score, 9-9, after a block from Zachary Carff. The turning point came when the Ramblers rattled off four straight points, highlighted by another Van Buren kill and a service ace from Tyler Howard to put Loyola up 15-11. The Maroon and Gold continued to apply pressure with a late set kill from Brad Bell that put Loyola right next to victory. A Missouri S&T attack error on match point sealed the sweep, and Loyola took the final set, 25-18, while hitting .318 in the frame. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Van Buren notched a career-high 100 aces while adding seven kills, five digs and two block assists. 
• Robbins hit a season-high five kills in just one set and recorded a career-high four digs.  
• JJ Sowa anchored the back row with a team-high 11 digs. 
• The Ramblers hit .323 as a team and held the Miners to .057 hitting.  

Up Next 
The Ramblers are back in action tomorrow night at 5 p.m. inside Gentile Arena to take on Mount Olive and close out the six-match homestand. Loyola takes its first road trip next week to California to face No. 11 Pepperdine and No. 14 UC San Diego.