I was starting to piece together the men's volleyball schedule the way we often do with basketball, but the schedule was released Thursday...

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m- ... sched.html

Highlights:

- Opens with two matches in Palo Alto to face BYU and Stanford (host of this year's NCAA Tournament)
- Home and road matches with EIVA power Penn State
- Faces Barton College from Conference Carolinas
- Regular season home opener vs. Harvard on Saturday, Jan. 17

BYU and Stanford will both probably be ranked to begin the season. The Ramblers will carry a 27-match winning streak into that opening weekend. Loyola also has a 17-match home winning streak, and an 11-match road winning streak dating back to the 2013 season.

I have the suspicion that the winning streak will end fairly early out West. I hope they can prove me wrong. There are some big shoes to fill on the Right Side and Libero with Smalzer and Jasaitis gone. Both were captains too so there is a big leadership void.