MIVA Player of the Year Contenders Clash in Chicago on Saturday

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne's Jon Diedrich and No. 9 Loyola Chicago's Parker Van Buren will square off in Chicago this weekend as the two men's volleyball programs play a MIVA match on Saturday (March 4). The two are the MIVA's leaders in points per set: Van Buren (5.10), Diedrich (4.98).

Game Day Information
Who: Loyola Chicago Ramblers
When: Saturday, March 4 | 8 PM ET
Where: Chicago, Ill. | Gentile Arena
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Loyola Chicago | MIVA

Know Your Foe
Loyola Chicago is 13-2 and 6-0 in the MIVA. The Ramblers are unbeaten at home this season, sporting an 8-0 record in Gentile Arena. The Ramblers' only losses this season came at Concordia Irvine and No. 3 Long Beach State. Reigning Offensive Player of the Week Parker Van Buren is leading Loyola Chicago and is third in the country with 5.10 points per set.

Series History
Loyola Chicago leads the all-time series 40-23, but Purdue Fort Wayne won the last meeting 3-0. The Ramblers took both regular-season meetings against the 'Dons in 2022, but Purdue Fort Wayne won 3-0 in the MIVA semifinal last season in a marathon match that saw Zach Solomon record 50 assists.

Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is third in the MIVA and sixth in the country with 2.41 blocks per set. Ryan Steponaitis (1.05), Bryce Walker (0.94), Mark Frazier (0.87) and Jon Diedrich (0.62) are all in the top-20 in the MIVA in blocks per set.

Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .352 clip.

Now Walk It Out
Bryce Walker's career mark of 0.32 aces per set is the third-most among active middle blockers in the country and the most in the MIVA.

Zany Zach
Zach Solomon is the MIVA career leader with 0.38 aces per set

Yes, No (ah), Maybe
Noah Melendez is the active career leader in Division I/II with 718 digs in his five years. The next closest is McKendree's Francisco Comas with 671. Former Mastodon Troy Gooch is third with 639.

Serrrrrrg
Sergio Carrillo has the second-most career assists among all Division I/II student-athletes with 2,847 in his five seasons. Cole Bogner of Penn State is the active leader with 3,492.

He's Special
Jon Diedrich is fourth in the country with 5.06 points per set. He is only behind Ras Jesse Delancy of Benedict, Jaylen Jasper of Pepperdine and Parker Van Buren of Loyola Chicago.

Chasing 1,000
Jon Diedrich is on pace to join the 1,000-kill club while at Purdue Fort Wayne. He has 962 kills and has averaged 3.51 kills per set in his career. If he continues this pace, he will hit the 1,000 mark in 11 sets.

Defensive Stoppers
The Mastodons have more Defensive Player of the Week awards this season than any other school in the MIVA. The 'Dons have had three honorees, all different players, while no other school has had more than one selection this season.

Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne beat Lewis 3-1 to move back to .500 in MIVA play. Jon Diedrich had 16 kills and Mark Frazier had a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs. It was the Mastodons' first home win over Lewis since 2014.

Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will take to the skies next week to visit the Hawaiian Islands and play in the Outrigger Challenge. The Mastodons will face No. 1 Hawaii, No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Penn State in that order.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

MIVA Player of the Year Contenders Clash in Chicago on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Sergio Carrillo

Jon Diedrich

Mark Frazier

Troy Gooch

Noah Melendez

Zach Solomon

Ryan Steponaitis

Bryce Walker

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics