Mastodons Head to Windy City for MIVA Match at No. 12 Loyola

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne (10-6, 4-2 MIVA) men's volleyball team travels to Chicago, Ill. to compete in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match against No. 12 Loyola Chicago (9-6, 5-1 MIVA) on Friday, March 4.

Friday at Loyola Chicago
WHEN: Friday, March 4 | 8 p.m. ET
WHERE: Chicago, Ill. | Gentile Arena
LIVE STATS: Stats
ESPN+: Link
SERIES HISTORY: Ramblers lead series 38-22

Know Your Foe
Loyola Chicago enters the weekend with a 9-6 overall record and a 5-1 MIVA record. The Ramblers are tied for first in the MIVA standings with Ball State. Their lone loss came against McKendree in Lebanon, Ill. back on Feb. 24.

Leading the way for the Ramblers on offense is Parker Van Buren. The redshirt-freshman from Cross Plains, Wis. has won three MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honors, and one AVCA Player of the Week. He is the only player with more than 200 kills on the roster (230 kills). He also leads the Ramblers in kills per set (4.18) and second in hitting percentage (.336) (min. 100 attempts).

Garrett Zolg leads the Ramblers in assists per set (9.21), and Cole Schlothauer leads in digs per set (1.95).

Player of the Week
Zach Solomon was named MIVA Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, March. 1.

Solomon played a crucial role for the Mastodons in their two wins over No. 10 Lewis and McKendree. He totaled 16 digs (2.00 per set), and seven blocks (0.88 per set) in eight sets of action last week.

In the win against No. 10 Lewis on Thursday, Solomon had eight digs, along with four blocks, which resulted in a .159 opponent hitting percentage. It was the first time the Flyers had been held under .200 this season. In a five-set win over McKendree two days later, Solomon had eight digs and three blocks.

Receiving Votes
In the latest AVCA poll, the Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team received seven votes. The 'Dons are one of two MIVA teams to receive votes (McKendree, eight). MIVA teams that are ranked in the AVCA top 15 are No. 9 Ball State, No. 11 Lewis, No, 12 Loyola Chicago, and No. 13 Ohio State.

Coming Up
The Mastodons will play two non-conference matchups next weekend. The 'Dons travel to Charleston, W.Va. to play against Charleston on Friday, March 11 (7 p.m.). Following Friday's match, the 'Dons travel to Wilberforce, Ohio for a match against Central State on Saturday, March. 12.

~Feel The Rumble~

Mastodons Head to Windy City for MIVA Match at No. 12 Loyola

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Zach Solomon

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics