 "Photo: Loyola Athletic Department/Steve Woltmann")
For the Loyola men’s volleyball team, luck has absolutely nothing to do with it.
The Ramblers rocked Romeoville, Ill., last Tuesday beating no. 15 ranked Lewis University 3-0 to remain the only undefeated team in the country.
Head Coach Shane Davis credits the team’s unstoppable momentum to a perfect storm of dedication, talent and experience. He believes the game was a defining moment for the team.
“Even though we were winning before, I think we were asking ourselves if we were supposed to win, or if it was just luck. But beating a quality team in a quick three [sets] helped us realize how good we really are.” Davis said.
“It was a very good, very consistent fight. We came out strong at the very first point, stayed focused throughout the entire match and didn’t let Lewis back in the game,” Davis said.
Loyola maintained a strong lead throughout each set, winning the first match 30-20 with kills from opposite hitters sophomore Mike Bunting and senior Kris Berzins.
“We were in control the entire match,” said Berzins, a team captain. “It was an entire team effort. It was perfect, and now we just need to keep being perfect.”
Bunting agreed that their success on the court was a result of the team’s cohesiveness and camaraderie.
“We’re at the point where we’re able to pull through as a unit even in tough situations, and everyone is playing really well,” he said.
Blocks from RS senior middle hitter Matt Adler and RS junior setter Mike Hutz helped the Ramblers crush Lewis again in the second set 30-22 before finishing them off in the third set 30-22 to win the game.
“We were firing on all cylinders,” said Adler. “Going into early game three, we had a great attitude. They tried to drag it out but we finished them right there.”
The victory also marked the best game of the season for middle hitter senior Mike Morice, who finished with a .889 hitting percentage.
As the team prepares for the rest of the season, coaches and players agree that the biggest challenges will be the upcoming games in California and Arizona against top teams like UCLA and California State Northridge.
“I think it will really be a proving grounds for us. We don’t get a lot of respect from West Coast teams,” said Hutz. “But we’re looking forward to the rest of the season and just showing what we’re capable of.”
Now ranked no. 11, the Ramblers hope to continue their winning streak this weekend with two home games against Quincy College on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Alumni Gym.
Fans are encouraged to dress in ’80s-themed attire for Friday’s game. At press time, the team had not yet decided on a theme for the game Saturday.
“I think we have a really great balance between approaching the games with a professional attitude but also having fun,” said Adler. “And we’re definitely going to have a lot of fun with the two games this weekend.”
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