LEADING OFF
No. 6 Loyola Chicago travels to the First Point Collegiate Challenge in Phoenix, Ariz. for two AVCA Top 15 matchups against No. 11 Stanford and No. 1 UCLA. The Ramblers take on the Cardinals Saturday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. CT then close out the weekend against the Bruins, Sunday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. CT.
QUICK HITS
- Loyola opened its season at Hawaii and split the two-match series, falling 3-0 in the first (Jan. 8), then winning the rematch 3-1 (Jan. 9).
- The Ramblers out-blocked the Rainbow Warriors in both matches, totaling 24.5 in the series, led by 6-foot-9 middle blocker Aidan Klein. Klein recorded a career-high six blocks in match two; he added eight kills on .538 hitting.
- Opposite Aleksandar Sosa had the match-high 19 kills on night two, hitting .378, and added six digs and three blocks.
- Setter Ryan McElligott marked a career-high five service aces and a double-double with 40 assists and 11 digs in the win. Libero JJ Sowa also reached double-digit digs (14).
- The Ramblers returned 15 student-athletes and welcomed five new faces, including three true freshmen and two transfers. Junior Aleksandar Sosa joined Loyola after two seasons at Quincy and fifth-year Josh Schellinger was previously at UC San Diego.
- Head coach Shane Davis enters his 14th year at Loyola, sporting a 290-93 (.757) career record. Last season, Davis led the Ramblers to a 25-4 ledger, their fourth MIVA Tournament title and fourth NCAA Tournament berth.
- 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Loyola's men's volleyball program, which is home to two of the university's three NCAA national championship titles.
SCOUTING REPORT
Stanford opened its season with a 3-0 loss at home against now No. 9 Lewis (previously No. 12). Opposite Moses Wagner led the Cardinals' attack with 12 kills on .290 hitting and setter Theoren Brouillette had 21 assists. Stanford's defense only put up 2.5 blocks in the entire match. The Cardinals were picked fourth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Preseason Poll after finishing 13-15 overall and 4-8 in conference play. Long-time head coach John Kosty entered his 20th season at Stanford.
UCLA is off to a 2-0 start, securing back-to-back home court sweeps over No. 15 McKendree and Concordia. Outside hitter Zach Rama led the charge with 27 total kills on .420 hitting and setter Andrew Rowan had 76 assists across the weekend. The Bruins were picked to finish first in the MPSF Preseason Poll. Head coach John Hawks entered his second season at the helm of the program after leading the Bruins to a National Championship runners-up finish in 2025.
SERIES HISTORY
Stanford leads the all-time series 5-2 with Loyola. The two teams last met in back-to-back matches at Stanford, who swept the first then stayed victorious after a five-set thriller in the second. Both Ramblers' victories came in their national championship seasons; Loyola defeated Stanford 3-1 in the 2014 NCAA National Championship game then the Ramblers swept the Cardinals in the following regular season.
The Ramblers are hunting for their first program win over the Bruins, who hold the series advantage 9-0. In the last meeting in 2024, UCLA swept Loyola 3-0 in Gentile Arena – it was the arena's largest attendance ever at a men's volleyball game. The Ramblers have only won seven sets against the Bruins in the all-time series.
It will be Davis' fourth career match up against Stanford and fifth against UCLA as Loyola's head coach.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Stream the first match on ESPN+ and watch the second on ESPNU. Follow men's volleyball on Instagram and X @RamblersMVB for in-game updates.
