LEADING OFF  
Loyola Chicago and Fordham face off this weekend in a two-match series beginning Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. and ending Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. The Ramblers are 12-10 overall, and 9-3 in Atlantic 10 play – tied for first in the league.  

QUICK HITS  

• The Ramblers are coming off a 3-1 win at Saint Louis (Oct. 27), where they served a season-best 12 aces, led by juniors Sam Falk and Mya Ball with three apiece.  
• Sophomore outside hitter Leyna Nguyen recorded her third straight double-double (eighth overall) with 18 kills on .324 hitting and a career-high 20 digs. Junior right side Kate Maley contributed 16 kills while hitting .367 and had five blocks -- both career-bests. 
• Loyola split its series with Dayton on the road last weekend, falling in the first match after five sets before bouncing back to win the second match after another five sets. It marked the Ramblers' first regular-season victory over the Flyers since 2022.  
• Senior middle Avary DeBlieck earned A10 Defensive Player of the Week after racking up 17 total blocks against the Flyers, highlighted by a season-high 10 blocks and a .588 hitting clip with 10 kills -- her first double-double of the season -- in the victory (Oct. 24).  
• Six Ramblers rank in the A10's top statistical leaders: Mya Ball second in service aces/set (.50) and eighth in assists/set (7.25), DeBlieck third in blocks/set (1.20) and ninth in hitting percentage (.292), Nguyen fourth in kills/set (3.59) and in points/set (4.06), Sam Falk fourth in digs/set (3.61) and 10th in service aces/set (.32) and Chloe Morgan seventh in blocks/set (1.04). 
• Ball also ranks 15th in the country in total service aces (42) and Nguyen is tied for 42nd in total kills (316).  
• Head coach Amanada Berkley entered her ninth season at the helm of the program, holding a 165-103 (.624) record.       

SCOUTING REPORT  
Fordham is 11-14 overall and 5-7 in A10 play so far in 2026. The Rams have secured conference series wins over Rhode Island and George Mason, and splits its series with George Washington.  

Rookie outside hitter Johanna Franzen paces the offense behind 2.98 kills/set, good for 10th in the league, and is second in team service aces (27). Her freshman counterpart Giada Ianuale facilitates Fordham's attack with 7.86 assists/set, placing her seventh in the A10. She also ranks third in the conference in service aces (39). Defensively, junior Özge  Özaslan averages 3.41 digs/set, good for fifth in the league, and senior Tatum Holderied leads the Rams' net presence with 88 total blocks, ranking her fourth in the A10 in blocks/set (1.13).  

The Rams were picked to finish last in the A10 Preseason Poll after a 3-15 conference record in 2025.  

SERIES HISTORY   
In a series dating back to 1991, the Ramblers hold the all-time advantage 9-0 with the Rams. Loyola has only dropped three total sets ever to Fordham.   

FOLLOW THE ACTION  

Stream the match on ESPN+. Follow @RamblersWVB on Instagram and X for in-game updates.