#1 Loyola will play #14 IPFW on Wednesday, April 23 (time still listed as TBA) at Gentile Arena for a berth in the MIVA tournament final. IPFW has a history of playing really well against Loyola in these big matches. In 2005, IPFW beat a 26-2 Loyola team in the MIVA semis-- in Chicago-- effectively knocking Loyola out of the NCAA Tournament. In 2008, IPFW took Loyola to a 20-18 fifth set in the MIVA semis in Chicago.

The Mastodons have a pretty active men's volleyball fandom, and might bring a hundred or so fans on the 160-mile trip to Chicago. Meanwhile, a loss by Loyola and a lower seed winning the MPSF tournament could conceiveably knock the Ramblers out of the NCAA Tournament despite their dominance over the regular season. If Loyola wins, they're probably a lock for an at large bid (no matter what happens in the MPSF tournament) even if the Ramblers should lose in the MIVA final. So this is a pretty big match. Hopefully, MIVA Player of the Year Thomas Jaeschke will be able to play and contribute.

Only 219 showed up for the Ramblers' first round match against Quincy on Thursday. There needs to be a much more robust Loyola crowd to urge the Ramblers onward on Wednesday.

Well, now you've got me a little worried... so I guess good preview?

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MBB Scholarship Chart

Wow. That is a walk down memory lane. I was at both matches you mentioned 63. The 2005 one was such a heartbreaker. Loyola was a #1 seed and IPFW was a #5. Like the current team, the '05 team had a very balanced offense on the outsides and the middle. The loss to an under .500 IPFW (along with the other home loss that I also attended against NAIA Missouri Baptist) were so fluky. If both teams were to go head to head in a matchup that would never happen, I take the current team in a heartbeat.

The '08 match was a quarterfinal. It was an important win for Loyola as they had lost to IPFW three years in a row in the conference playoffs, including the 2006 Final that was another heartbreaking loss that I witnessed at Alumni (Loyola a #1 seed and IPFW a #4).

So I have mostly bitter memories of Loyola vs. IPFW.

Game time is now listed as 7 p.m. Central.

May not have a big crowd since that is when the next Hawks game is on. Still...Go Ramblers!

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Cigarboy sucks!

Good luck to the Ramblers tonight! Wish I could be there.

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MBB Scholarship Chart

Wow. What a terrible start.

Also...tens of fans at the match.

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Cigarboy sucks!

More errors than energy so far....

Good recovery, though.

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Cigarboy sucks!

LU wins first set 27-25 after trailing 7-1 to start. Maybe that will take a little spring out of IPFW, who looks like they came to play.