CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago opens Atlantic 10 play on the road this weekend with a pair of matches at Fordham. The Ramblers look to snap a five-match skid, while the Rams have won two of their last four. Loyola and Fordham will square off Friday and Saturday in the Bronx.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 23 • at Fordham • 4 p.m. • Bronx, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 24 • at Fordham • 1 p.m. • Bronx, N.Y.

QUICK HITS
• Loyola took UIC and DePaul to five sets over the weekend, dropping both to wrap non-conference play. The Ramblers also played host to No. 12 Minnesota, who completed a sweep.
• Josie Halbleib recorded Loyola's first triple-double of the season against the Flames. She finished with 10 kills, 33 assists, and 16 dogs in the loss.
• Sam Falk and Leyna Nguyen added double-doubles at UIC. Falk totaled 10 assists and 16 digs, while Nguyen recorded 12 kills and 10 digs.
• Halbleib and Nguyen followed up with double-doubles vs. DePaul. Halbleib tallied 57 assists and 16 digs, while Nguyen had 14 kills and 12 digs. Halbleib's 57 assists marked a new career-high.
• Nguyen leads Loyola with seven double-doubles this season. She opened the year with four straight. The first three helped her earn the first A-10 Rookie of the Week honor.
• Halbleib adds four double-doubles, Ava Hunter has three, Kaitlyn Burke two, and Kate Maley and Falk with one each.
• The Ramblers have struggled in the win column but have found success on the court in several categories. Loyola ranks first in the A-10 and 24th in the country in total attacks (1,755), second in the A-10 and 31st in the country in total assists (572), second in the A-10 and 35th in the country in total kills (617), and second in the A-10 and 37th in the country in total blocks (109).
• Individually, Falk sits among the NCAA's best. She ranks 22nd in aces (23), 24th in total digs (218), and 53rd in digs per set (4.36).
• Loyola's 109 total blocks wouldn't be possible with out middles Avary DeBlieck and Ann Marie Remmes. Both rank 71st in the country with 50 blocks each. Both are nearly halfway there to crack into the single-season top-10 list.
• Remmes tallied a season-high eight blocks in the season opener vs. Drake. She added seven against vs. Iowa and DePaul. DeBlieck has four or more blocks in six matches this season.
• Head coach Amanda Berkley is in her eighth season at the helm. Her overall record with the Ramblers is 139-86.

SCOUTING FORDHAM
Fordham ended its non-conference season at 6-4, which saw a sweep of Central Connecticut State to wrap up play. The Rams are just one win away from matching last season's total after the team went 7-20 overall. Fordham was tabbed 10th in the preseason poll, having only three league wins in 2024.

The Rams lead the A-10 and rank eighth in the NCAA with 122 total blocks this season. Fordham is averaging 3.3 blocks per set, which leads the country. The Rams are also holding their opponents to a .163 hitting percentage, which also leads the league and sits 39th in the nation.

The block efforts are led by Tatum Holderied, who is up to 82 already. She ranks second in the country, while her 2.28 blocks per set average ranks first. The junior middle blocker has three matches this season with at least 10 blocks, including a season-best 15 vs. Binghamton. Fordham's offense is led by Erynn Sweeney. She's totaled 114 kills this season, featuring a season-high 27 kills vs. Binghamton.

SERIES HISTORY
Loyola leads the all-time series, 6-0. The Ramblers have swept every meeting vs. the Rams.