The 2015 men's volleyball preseason poll is out, and defending champ Loyola is ranked #2. The Ramblers got 8 of the 18 first place votes in the poll, and Pepperdine squeeked through for the #1 spot with the other 10 first place votes. Loyola's first two opponents are ranked in the top 10, with BYU at #6 and 2015 NCAA Tournament host Stanford at #10.

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m- ... 14aac.html

#2 Loyola takes down Windsor in their first exhibition match of the year.
http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m- ... 15aaa.html

Slightly disturbing that our boys needed five sets to beat Windsor...

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I was able to catch the last 4 sets. After winning the first two, Loyola played several non-starters into sets 3, 4, and 5. The coaching staff still needs to fill in a new Right Side and Libero with Smalzer and Jasaitis graduating. I did notice that Middle Hitter Nick Olson was in warmups on the sideline and didn't play at all while I was there. Additionally, Middle Hitter Owen McAndrews was playing Right Side early on so I got a look at some new faces playing Middle throughout the match including Derek Guimond who has made the jump from Loyola Club to Varsity, and freshman MH Jeff Jendryk (6' 10"). Both Liberos on the roster Jake Selsky and Jagger Kroener played. Two freshman Right Sides Ben Plaisted and Ricky Gevis (6' 11") saw action. So I wouldn't read too much into Windsor taking Loyola to 5 as most of the starters were out late in the match.

Side Note: In the 3rd set, the PA (not B) announced that a 4th set was to be played regardless of the outcome after 3. In two previous meetings, Loyola swept Windsor. So either Loyola promised them a 4th set to make it worthwhile for Windsor to travel, or Loyola wanted to play at least four to see the reserves in game action, or both, or something else.

Vuster,

Thanks for the report. Do you think any of the freshmen will be able to step in to replace Joe Smalzer?

Is it true you had a C-Note riding on the Ramblers winning in straight sets?

Disturbing indeed!

(Hey, if 12 can wager $100 on the Rambler cagers beating the spread against UNI, I don't think it's out of the question for you to be laying bets on the v ball team...)

I don't recall...

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