LEADING OFF 
No. 6 Loyola Chicago (17-2, 8-2 MIVA) welcomes conference foe Lindenwood for a pair of matches on Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. and on Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. inside Gentile Arena.  

QUICK HITS 

• The Ramblers improved two spots in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, from eight to six, per the league's announcement on March 24 after defending their home court against then-No. 17 Ohio State in four sets (March 20) and then-No. 7 CSUN in five (March 22).  
• Parker Van Buren was named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and 15th in his career. He recorded the match-high 19 kills in both matches while combining for 10 digs, nine block assists and three services.
• The fourth weekly recognition for Van Buren marks the third consecutive award for Loyola after Nicodemus Meyer earned the defensive nod on March 17 and Ryan McElligott was named offensive on March 11.   
• Against the Matadors, the Ramblers marked a season-high 20 blocks, anchored by Meyer who is No. 1 in the country in blocks/set (1.27).  
• The Ramblers lead the MIVA in 10 categories: points (17.52/set), hitting percentage (.353), assists (12.21/set), kills (13.00/set), service aces (1.89/set), blocks (2.63/set) opponent hitting percentage (.217), opponent assists (10.21/set), opponent kills (10.71/set) and opponent service aces (0.99/set).   
• Head coach Shane Davis remains the winningest coach in program history with a 281-90 ledger and a .757 winning percentage.       

SCOUTING REPORT 
Lindenwood is currently 7-12 overall and 4-7 in MIVA play. The Lions have picked up conference victories over Purdue Fort Wayne, Quincy and Lewis when the Flyers were ranked 14th nationally. The Lions are led offensively by junior outside hitter Brendan Louthain with 230 total kills and a 3.15/set average and are instrumented by junior setter Zach Soloman with 736 overall assists (10.37/set). Defensively, Soloman anchors the back row with 1.68 digs/set and sophomore middle blocker Owen Walsh leads at the net with 50.0 total blocks (31 block assists and 19 solos).  

SERIES HISTORY 
The Ramblers hold the series advantage, 27-4, against the Lions and have never lost to them inside Gentile Arena. In last year's meetings in St. Charles, Mo., Loyola defeated Lindenwood, 3-1 in the second match, after falling with the same set score in match one. Prior to that loss, the Ramblers hadn't lost to the Lions since 2020.  

FOLLOW THE ACTION 
Stream the match on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+. Follow men's volleyball on Instagram and X @RamblersMVB for in-game updates.