GREENWOOD, Ind. – After an incredible season on the court and in the classroom, three Ramblers of Loyola Chicago's men's volleyball were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, per the organization's announcement on Tuesday. Incoming seniors Brad Bell and Ryan McElligott each earned the first CSC academic honor of their careers while graduate Parker Van Buren collected his second.
Bell, an accounting major, finished his junior year with a 3.82 GPA while making 22 starts in 23 matches. The Salem, Wis. native was second on the team in total blocks with 70.0, comprised of 63 block assists and seven solos, both career-bests. As a middle blocker, Bell was also a top offensive contributor with 111 kills and a .445 hitting percentage. Earlier this summer, he was named to the Academic All-MIVA Team for the second consecutive season.
The nation's No. 1 assist leader wears Maroon and Gold and excels inside the classroom; McElligott studies finance and holds a 3.70 GPA. In 27 matches, McElligott made 26 starts and totaled 1,016 assists, averaging 10.81 per set – good for first in the country and in the league. Hailing from Mundelein, Ill., the First Team All-Conference setter ranked second among the Ramblers in service aces with 32 and had 75 total kills on a .415 hitting percentage. Defensively, he contributed 164 digs and 69.0 blocks, second and third on the team, respectively. McElligott had a statement junior campaign, receiving MIVA All-Tournament Team honors in addition to his All-MIVA First Team selection, an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and an Academic All-MIVA nod.
Back-to-back MIVA Player of the Year and MBA graduate Van Buren capped his collegiate academic career with a 3.96 GPA. Starting in all of Loyola's matches but one, Van Buren led the league and the team with 435 total kills, averaging 4.39 per set, on a career-best .403 hitting percentage; he is the program's third all-career leader in kills (1,647). Van Buren also had the team and league-high 47 service aces, cementing his spot in the Ramblers' record book as the third all-time service ace leader with 135 across his career. Born and raised in Cross Plains, Wis., Van Buren leaves Loyola as one of its most decorated student-athletes, garnering an All-MIVA First Team selection, MIVA Tournament MVP, his second AVCA All-American First Team honor and an Academic All-MIVA nod in 2025.
The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men's At-Large teams, selected by CSC, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. McElligott and Van Buren were both selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists and advanced to the national ballot, which is voted on by CSC members, and will be announced July 9.
