Loyola Men’s Volleyball Defeats Ohio State in Three Set Sweep

The No. 13 Loyola men’s volleyball team (11-2, 4-0) defeated No. 10 The Ohio State University in a three-set sweep Feb. 18 at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers came into the match after another victory Feb. 17, defeating No. 11 Ball State University.

The first set was a close battle between the Buckeyes and the Ramblers, with five long rallies and momentum driving the teams to go point-for-point, with 11 ties throughout the first set. The teams matched each other’s energy throughout most of the set until a 3-0 scoring run by the Buckeyes led to a timeout by the Ramblers at 17-15.

After the timeout, Loyola responded with three consecutive points after two attack errors and a ball mishandling error by Ohio State. The Ramblers then took a one-point lead at 19-18, which led the Buckeyes to take their own timeout. 

Up by four after two consecutive Ohio State errors, the Ramblers came close to taking the set after a kill by redshirt senior outside hitter Cole Schlothauer brought it to set point at 24-20. The set was sealed shortly after by redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Van Buren, with a score of 25-20.

The second set opened with six unanswered points by the Ramblers, featuring kills from Van Buren, Schlothauer and Mangun, which led the Buckeyes to take an early timeout. Ohio State found some momentum after, going on a 4-0 scoring run which was ultimately stopped by a kill from Van Buren. 

The set continued neck-and-neck, as neither team led by more than two until Loyola forced two Ohio State attack errors to give itself a four-point lead at 24-20. To close the set, junior middle blocker Jimmy Meinhart hit a kill to give the Ramblers the win at 25-20 and a two-set advantage over the Buckeyes.

To start the third set, Brooks hit a kill that would mark the start of a 5-0 scoring run by the Ramblers, causing an early set timeout by the Buckeyes. Ohio State then caught up to Loyola, cutting its deficit to just one point at 6-5.

Loyola struck back with four unanswered points off kills by Schlothauer and sophomore middle blocker Nicodemus Meyer. The Ramblers kept their lead throughout the set but Ohio State wasn’t far behind and shortly after went on a 3-0 scoring run to bring the score to 15-12.

Nonetheless, the Ramblers kept their foot on the gas and didn’t let up their lead, bringing the set to match point at 24-18. Mangun then hit a kill to finish the set at 25-18 and close out the game 3-0 in sets.

Following the match, Hawks was thrilled about the win, noting it was huge for the program.

“We’ve got alumni here, and I’m super proud that they got to see those guys in action, and I mean, how can you not get charged up,” Hawks said. “You got Ohio State, your gym, you got a great crowd. It’s awesome.”
Up next, the Ramblers travel to face the Lewis University Flyers Feb. 22. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the broadcast information has yet to be announced.