CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago continues its homestand with No. 12 Minnesota Friday night in Gentile Arena. First serve between the Ramblers and Gophers is 6 p.m. CT. The Ramblers will follow up with the Chicago Cup and play at UIC Saturday and at home against DePaul Sunday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 19 • vs. No. 12 Minnesota • 6 p.m. • Gentile Arena • Camper Night - Henley Jersey giveaway
Saturday, Sept. 20 • at UIC • 6 p.m. • Chicago, Ill.
Sunday, Sept. 21 • vs. DePaul • 1 p.m. • Gentile Arena
QUICK HITS
• Loyola is coming of its annual invitational where the Ramblers played host to Stephen F. Austin, Indiana, and Bowling Green.
• Loyola picked up a five-set win over SFA and set an A-10 season high of 78 kills in the match.
Kaitlyn Burke led the way with a career-high 25 kills for the Ramblers.
• The Ramblers' 72 assists and 101 digs also rank second on the A-10 season-high list.
• Burke (25 kills, 12 digs),
Leyna Nguyen, (14 kills, 16 digs),
Ava Hunter (43 assists, 12 digs), and
Josie Halbleib (17 assists, 10 digs) all double-doubled in the win over SFA.
• Loyola stole a set from both Indiana and Bowling Green, but the Hoosiers and Falcons took 3-1 wins over the Ramblers.
• Halbleib did a bit of everything against the Hoosiers, tallying nine kills, 16 assists, and seven digs. Hunter neared a double-double vs. the Falcons with 31 assists and nine digs.
•
Karli Molnau took home A-10 Rookie of the Week honors after averaging 3.18 kills per set, .82 digs per set, and .82 blocks per set. She posted a .443 hitting percentage and recorded a career-high 13 kills twice.
• In the NCAA, Loyola ranks 43rd in blocks 984.0), 57th in attacks (1,289), 61st in assists (430), and 65th in kills (463).
•
Sam Falk is among the nation's best liberos, ranking 21st in aces (19), 28th in digs (163), and 51st in dps (4.41).
• Head coach
Amanda Berkley is in her eighth season at the helm. Her overall record with the Ramblers is 139-83.
SCOUTING OPPONENTS
Minnesota is 8-1 heading into the weekend. The Gophers dropped their first match of the season to No. 9 Texas A&M and have won every match since. Last weekend, Minnesota swept both South Florida and Dayton before taking down South Dakota State in four sets. The Gophers were tabbed fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll after going 13-7 in conference play last year.
Julia Hanson is the team's leading attacher with 125 kills this season. She is averaging just over four kills per set. Hanson has tallied double-figure kills in all but one match this season, including a season-best 21 vs. Cal Poly.
UIC is ride a three-match win streak into the weekend and sits at 4-4 overall. The Flames beat Toledo, Central Arkansas, and Chicago State over the last three matches. Despite the .500 start, UIC was tabbed second in the Missouri Valley preseason poll and received one first-place vote. The Flames went 23-10 last season.
Beatrice Carulli leads UIC with 73 kills this season and adds 10 blocks on the defensive side. She finished with a season-high 15 kills against Toledo. Carulli has one double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs vs. North Florida back on Aug. 31.
DePaul has won its last four matches and sits at 6-3 overall heading into this weekend. The Blue Demons are also 3-0 on the road before their trips to UIC and Gentile. Over the last week, DePaul beat Central Arkansas, Chicago State, and Milwaukee. DePaul is expected to finish middle of the pack after falling No. 6 in the Big East preseason poll.
Morgan Stewart leads DePaul with 114 kills this season. She has tallied at least 10 in all but one match, including a season-best 22 vs. Oakland. Eva Hurrle ranks eighth in the country with 189 total digs and ninth with 5.25 digs per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota leads the all-time series, 2-0. The teams haven't met since 1994.
Loyola leads the all-time series vs. UIC, 38-32. The Ramblers picked up a five-set win last season.
The Ramblers hold a 33-15 record over the Blue Demons. Loyola earned a 3-1 win last season at DePaul.
