Loyola Men’s Volleyball 2025 Preview 

The Loyola men’s volleyball team prepares for their upcoming 2025 season after finishing with a 19-10 record and playoff appearance last year. 

Prior to the season’s start, the team underwent several staffing changes. With the resignation of former head coach John Hawks, the Ramblers found a replacement in former 2004-2015 Hall of Fame head coach Shane Davis, who captured back-to-back NCAA titles with Loyola in 2014 and 2015. 

Former Rambler Kyle Exline joined as the team’s new associate head coach after a stint at North Central College with both men’s and women’s teams. Assistant coach Dalton Sobrig has rounded out the staff after serving in the same position for Dominican University. Solbrig attended and played for the University of Hawaii from 2016 to 2019. 

New Additions 

Along with a reconstructed coaching staff, Loyola welcomed six first-years, one transfer and one walk-on to the squad. 

Ben Winokur, a 6’5” first-year middle blocker, has joined the team from Huntington Beach, CA. Winokur was named to the Sunset League All Academic Team in all four years of high school, and was inducted into the Edison High School Hall of Fame.

Redshirt first-year middle blocker Kellen Palmer, a native of Buffalo, NY, helped lead his high school — Canascius — to the Monsignor Martin Athletic conference title in 2022. While in high school, 6’10” Palmer recorded 110 kills, 50 blocks and three aces. 

Jett Bathurst joins the Ramblers as a first-year from Manhattan Beach, CA. Standing at 6’3”, Bathurst played club for Team Rockstar under Mizuno Long Beach Volleyball and was named to the Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 after securing All-Area First Team and Bay League Second Team. 

Will Hatch, a 6’9” redshirt first-year, lettered in all four years at Tamalpais High School while starting every match. Hatch was named to both First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Conference, and he played club with MVVC/Absolute in his native Mills Valley, CA.  

First-year Jack Mally, a native of Geneva, IL, totalled 897 career kills and 124 career aces during his time at Geneva High School. The 6’6” Mally was named All-Conference in 2022 and HM 2023-24 All Conference.  

Owen Smith, a 5’10” native of San Jose, CA, joins the Ramblers with eight junior Olympic medals. A graduate of Gunderson High School, Smith was named Sophomore of the Year and went on to be named Junior of the Year the following season. In San Jose, he played club for 11 years at Bay to Bay Volleyball Club. 

The single transfer joining the squad is 6’1” graduate student outside hitter Jackson Reed, arriving from the University of Southern California. During his time at USC, he was recognized by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic Team in 2023. Last season, Reed appeared in 24 matches, earning him 30 kills, three blocks, 46 digs, 11 assists and six aces. 

Rounding out the roster is fourth-year walk-on Jack Jedick. The Rocky River, Ohio native was previously the president of the men’s club volleyball team on campus, helping lead them to victory at the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Collegiate Club D1AA National Championship. Jedick’s performance during the tournament earned him the recognition of MVP and a spot on the Second All Tournament Team.  

Games to Look Out For 

Loyola opens its season in Gentile Arena against Penn State University Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. The two teams face off for the first time since 2020, when Penn State swept Loyola in three sets. Last season, Penn State made a run to the NCAA tournament but was beaten out by the University of California-Irvine. 

The Ramblers face Purdue University Fort Wayne at Gentile Arena Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The Ramblers’ playoff run — and season — concluded when they fell in the MIVA tournament during a 3-0 sweep by the Mastodons.

The Ramblers face the Ohio State University Buckeyes Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. in Gentile Arena. The teams split two matchups last season, with the Ramblers narrowly winning the first 3-2, while Ohio State swept the Ramblers in the second. 

The team’s first meeting with McKendree University will take place at home Feb. 8 at 7 p.m and will commence Loyola’s MIVA conference slate. The Bearcats handed Loyola two of their losses last season, in just five total sets. 

The Ramblers’ final regular season match will take place in Gentile Arena against Ball State University April 12 at 5 p.m.