Men’s Volleyball Breaks Even Over Winter Break

Loyola men’s volleyball traveled to Hawaii and participated in the First Point Collegiate Challenge Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz., over holiday break, coming away with a 2-2 record.

Jan. 8 at the University of Hawaii 

The Rainbow Warriors, ranked second in the nation, swept the Ramblers with three easy wins Jan. 8. Third-year outside hitter Daniel Fabikovic and Hawaii’s second-year opposite Kristian Titriyski led with 11 kills each, while redshirt third-year outside hitter Bryce Robbins led Loyola’s defense with four blocks. 

Despite seven service errors from the Warriors and kills by third-year opposite Aleksandar Sosa and Fabikovic, the Ramblers couldn’t overcome a 25-18 Hawaii victory in the first set. 

The second set resulted in a 25-19 Hawaii victory after three service aces by Warrior’s redshirt second-year outside hitter and middle blocker Justin Todd, five kills by Titriyski and four kills by second-year outside hitter Adrien Roure. Fourth-year setter Ryan McElligott fought back with 13 assists and one block. 

Hawaii finished the sweep with a 25-15 win in the third set after four kills by third-year outside hitter and opposite Louis Sakanoko and five kills from Fabikovic. 

Jan. 9 at the University of Hawaii

The Ramblers returned to Hawaii the next day and won the match three sets to one. Sosa led the charge with 19 kills, and Fabikovic trailed with 11. McElligott tallied five blocks and 40 assists, and Sakanoko rang up 18 kills for the Warriors. 

The first set went to the Ramblers 25-23 when McElligott and Sosa traded between three service aces and three kills. Todd got off two kills on the Ramblers’ defense, but four blocks by Loyola gave them the win. 

The second set had the teams going back and forth on points, but the Ramblers gained a lead at the end with a service ace by Fabikovic, a kill by Sosa and two errors from the Hawaii offense. A block by third-year outside hitter Jake Read secured a 25-22 Loyola win. 

Hawaii took the third set 26-24 after overcoming a strong 12-5 Loyola lead at the beginning. Sosa, Fabikovic and third-year middle blocker Aidan Klein put points on the board for a 20-13 Loyola lead, but kills by Sakanoko and Titriyski, along with stumbles on Loyola’s offense, put the Rainbow Warriors on top. 

Despite Hawaii’s fight in the fourth set, Loyola took the match with a 29-27 win after battling for the lead the entire game. A final kill by Read, a Sakanoko service error and a block by Fabikovic secured the match for Loyola. 

Jan. 17 at Stanford University

The Ramblers won their first match at the First Point Collegiate Challenge Tournament three sets to two against Stanford University, ranked 11th in the nation. Sosa led scoring with 26 kills, and Klein maintained the defense with seven blocks. Stanford’s fourth-year opposite side hitter Moses Wagner tallied 19 kills, and redshirt third-year outside hitter Alex Rottman followed with 17 kills. 

Stanford took the first set 25-21 after gaining a quick lead at the beginning of the game. Kills by Sosa and Fabikovic shortened the lead, but Rambler service errors and strong kills from the other side clinched the win for the Cardinal. 

The second set went to Loyola 25-22 with five kills,a block from Fabikovic and three kills by Wagner. The win went to the Ramblers off a kill from fourth-year middle blocker Brad Bell and two from Sosa. 

Loyola continued their offensive strength in the third set, where they won 25-23. Sosa led the charge with six kills, and Fabikovic followed with four while service and attack errors plagued Stanford’s offense. 

Stanford came back strong with a 26-24 fourth set win, with seven kills from Wagner and four from Stanford’s fourth-year outside hitter Theo Snoey. Loyola fought back with four kills by both Fabikovic and Sosa and three team blocks, but it wasn’t enough to win the set. 

Three kills and a service ace by Fabikovic, along with four kills from Sosa and a kill by Klein, Loyola took the fifth set 15-13. Stanford stumbled with five attack errors and two service errors. 

Jan. 18 at University of California at Los Angeles

Loyola fell to the No. 1 ranked University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Jan. 18, three sets to none. Sosa led the Ramblers offensively with 11 kills and Klein led the defense with two blocks. Bruins fourth-year outside hitter Zach Rama tallied 23 kills, and second-year outside hitter Sean Kelly followed with eight. 

The first set started with swapped kills by Kelly and Fabikovic, but Rama’s seven kills won UCLA the set 25-23. Sosa and Fabikovic blocked several shots, but with four service errors by the Ramblers, UCLA took the set. 

Loyola didn’t fare much better in the second set, with four service errors and three attack errors, while Rama tallied eight kills, and Kelly put up three points. Fabikovic put up three kills, and Read followed with two, which wasn’t enough to stop the 25-19 victory for the Bruins. 

The Bruins took the match with a 26-24 win in the third set with six Rama kills and four kills from Kelly. Sosa responded with six of his own kills, and Fabikovic with three. Read tallied one block and a service ace, but UCLA finished the Ramblers with two more back-to-back Rama kills. 

The Ramblers come to Gentile Arena for their home opener against Pepperdine University Jan. 23. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and can be streamed on Marquee Sports Network.