Purdue Fort Wayne
Charleston (W.Va.)
Two Ranked Teams Visit Gates This Weekend
3/16/2023 3:16:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: No. 14 Charleston Golden Eagles
When: Friday, March 17 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Charleston | MIVA
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: No. 9 Loyola Chicago Ramblers
When: Saturday, March 18 | 5 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Loyola Chicago | MIVA
Know Your Foes
• Charleston has been one of the most impressive teams in the National Collegiate this season, starting the season 17-1 and moving into the AVCA Top 15 Poll for the first time in program history on February 13. The Golden Eagles' only slip-up was a 3-0 loss to George Mason. UC is led by Lachlan Bray and Garret Schnitker, who are both averaging over 3.00 kills per set.
• Loyola Chicago is 16-2 with an 8-0 record in the MIVA. The Ramblers' only losses this year came at Concordia and No. 3 Long Beach State. Loyola has won its last nine matches. Parker Van Buren and Cole Schlothauer are one of the most dangerous 1-2 combos in the country, averaging 4.10 and 3.51 kills per set, respectively. Dan Mangun is the reigning MIVA Offensive Player of the Week and AVCA National Player of the Week.
Series Histories
• Purdue Fort Wayne beat Charleston both times they met in 2016 and 2022. Both contests were 3-0 wins for the Mastodons. Jon Diedrich had 10 kills in last year's match.
• Loyola Chicago leads the all-time series 41-23. Purdue Fort Wayne is 9-18 against the Ramblers at home. The Ramblers won the last match 3-2 in Chicago. Mark Frazier, Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker all had 10+ kills.
Block Party
Ryan Steponaitis (0.92), Bryce Walker (0.84) and Mark Frazier (0.77) are all in the top-15 in the MIVA in blocks per set.
Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .344 clip.
Now Walk It Out
Bryce Walker's career mark of 0.35 aces per set is the second-most among active middle blockers in the country and the most in the MIVA. This mark is also top-25 overall and third in the MIVA among all positions.
Zany Zach
Zach Solomon is the MIVA career leader with 0.37 aces per set.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne took on the three best teams in the country at the Outrigger Invitational, but lost all three 3-0.
Coming Up
The Mastodons have another match at home next week on Thursday (March 23) when MIVA foe McKendree visits the Gates Sports Center.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
