Loyola Falls in Quarterfinal Round of NCAA Championship

For the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015, the Ramblers made a comeback to the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament after winning every set in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championship for the 2024-25 season. 

Led by Loyola Hall of Fame head coach and former NCAA champion Shane Davis, the Ramblers earned one of nine spots to dance at the tournament, facing Pepperdine University in the first round.

With many fans in attendance for both programs at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio, Loyola rematched a determined Waves squad, who suffered a heartbreaking loss in five sets to Loyola earlier in the year.

Pepperdine struck the board to open the game after an attack error from second-year outside hitter Daniel Fabikovic. Redshirt fourth-year outside hitter Parker Van Buren was there in the following play, notching a kill to even the board at one.

First-year Pepperdine outside hitter Cole Hartke registered a service ace before fourth-year middle blocker Nicodemus Meyer tabbed a kill to give Loyola an early 3-1 lead.

Van Buren’s attack went just over the back right side for an error, and Fabikovic tabbed a kill before Van Buren chalked another soft-touch kill that went through the hands of Hartke. 

Redshirt third-year Ryan Barnett put a kill into Loyola’s backcourt and Fabikovic kept the Ramblers in momentum, tabbing another kill.

A service error from Barnett gave Loyola a 7-4 lead. Hartke tied the set at eight, and the Waves grabbed momentum after two straight blocks from redshirt second-year middle blocker Ethan Watson and second-year outside hitter Ilay Harvey, who then scored again with a kill. 

Harvey and third-year setter Ryan McElligott exchanged service errors in the following sequence. Meyer found a gap to put a kill through Barnett’s hand to put Loyola ahead 10-9. 

Pepperdine took a timeout after second-year outside Jake Read tabbed a kill as Hartke’s attack error put Loyola ahead 12-9.

Barnett put back a kill out of the timeout, as Watson and Meyer traded service errors. Van Buren then made a statement by slashing three consecutive kills to put the Ramblers ahead 15-11.

Loyola had a block on Hartke, and after third-year libero JJ Sowa’s acrobatic set connected Fabikovic with another kill, Barnett committed a service error. The Waves called a timeout trailing 18-12.

Two more blocks for the Ramblers from third-year middle blocker Brad Bell, McElligott and Fabikovic gave Loyola 20 out of Pepperdine’s break. Barnet missed his spike, and fourth-year Pepperdine libero Brenden Read’s serve struck the net for a fault, giving Loyola set one at 25-18.

The Waves struck the second frame first with a kill from Barnett, who followed his point with a service error. Van Buren registered a kill and Hartke was there to answer with a kill of his own.

Watson then tabbed two kills to take the lead over Loyola, but Read of Pepperdine had an attack error and challenged, giving the Ramblers a 3-2 lead over the Waves.

Loyola was unable to finish a block from Hartke’s swing as Pepperdine took the lead 6-5. Set two continued in point-for-point sequence until a tie at 16, where a kill from McElligott and Fabikovic sent the Waves into a timeout.

Fabikovic grabbed a kill, giving Loyola a 20-18 lead, then five service errors followed—two for the Ramblers and three from the Waves, keeping Loyola ahead at 22-20.

The Ramblers settled for a timeout as Pepperdine tied the set at 23 with an attack from Van Buren, blocked by Barnett.

Read gave Loyola a set point in the next play, but after a kill from second-year outside hitter Ilay Harver, the Waves tied the set at 24, forcing a win-by-two situation.

Harver responded with a kill after Barnett’s service error gave Loyola 25. Loyola then successfully challenged a kill for an attack error on Hartke. Hartke blocked Van Buren’s attack, giving Pepperdine the go-ahead point, 27-26. The Waves won set two 28-26, with Watson recording the final kill.

The Waves took the first points of the third frame after Read made an attack error while Meyer responded with a kill to tie the score. 

The Ramblers fell behind 6-2 after two aces from Hartke and a mistake on Bell’s attack, forcing Loyola to settle for a timeout.

Out of the break, three straight attack errors for Loyola — two from Read and one from Bell — gave the Waves some even cushion, leading 9-2. 

A block from Read and first-year middle blocker Aidan Klein broke the sequence, but a kill from Watson and Haver put Loyola down 11-3 and brought the Ramblers in for a timeout. 

Barnett gave the Waves 15 with a kill, as the Ramblers found themselves behind a large deficit of 15-4. 

At 16-6, Van Buren swung and connected a kill over the left, but Hartke was able to connect for the block. An attack error from Fabikovic put the Waves ahead 18-6.

Pepperdine found point twenty after Brenden Read registered a service ace, then a kill from redshirt first-year Tyler Howard was challenged at 20-8 and reversed to give the Waves 21. 

Barnett’s kill took the third set for the Waves 25-13 as the Ramblers sank 10 missed attacks and a -.200 hitting percentage in the frame. 

Read and Barnett traded kills to open the fourth set. The Waves went ahead 4-2 after another kill from Barnett. Fabikovic answered with a kill assisted by McElligott.

An ace from Barnett and a kill from Hartke sent the Ramblers in for a timeout down 7-3. Watson grabbed his seventh kill as Pepperdine went up 12-6 over the Ramblers, pushing later into the fourth set. 

A block from Klein and McElligott gave Loyola eight, then a challenged service ace from the Waves overturned in favor of Loyola gave the Ramblers nine. 

McElligott registered a service ace, and Meyer made a kill, putting Loyola behind 17-10. After two consecutive kills by Van Buren and Meyer brought Loyola closer, Fabikovic gained momentum with an ace, down 17-13.

Hartke put up a kill to give the Waves 18, then an attack error followed from Van Buren. Meyer and McElligott combined for a block on Barnett of Pepperdine to level the score 22-18.

Fabikovic, Meyer, and Van Buren all triple-blocked Hartke’s attempt to connect a kill before the Waves called a timeout up 23-20 as their lead dwindled.

The Ramblers, closing their deficit, scored their last point of the 2025 season on the triple block — a kill by Barnett followed an attack error from Fabikovic.

The Waves took the set 25-20.

Meyer and Van Buren reflected on their team’s resilience that led them back to the NCAA Championships.

“There was never any doubt that we were going to lose,” Meyer said. “The whole time we professed, ‘Why not us? Why can’t we win? It’s our chance.’ The whole team is just really resilient. And then just, this coaching. Pre-game, practice, during the game, constantly firing us up, telling us you’re the best team, you’re the best team, you’re the best team. It means so much to have coaches who truly believe.”

McElligott led the ledger with 35 assists behind 11 digs for his fourth double-double of the season, while Van Buren recorded his 12th straight game with 10 kills.

Davis said he appreciated being back at the helm of the men’s volleyball program. In his debut season, he led the Ramblers to a 25-4 record and a trip to the championship tournament. 

“It’s been amazing to be back and be in a position to come back and say yes,” Davis said. “We’ve just had arms wrapped around us and support. I chose Loyola for a reason 30 years ago, and there’s a reason I’m still here. It’s just a special place.”