April 4, 2007

CHICAGO - The No. 12 Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball team concludes MIVA Shondell/Dunlap Division regular-season play against the No. 14 Ball State Cardinals tonight in Alumni Gym. The Ramblers are currently fourth in the conference standings with a 7-4 mark (20-6 overall) while the Cardinals have won their last four matches and are second with a 6-2 league record (14-9 overall).

Loyola trails 15-14 in the all-time series but has won three of the last four matches between the schools. The Cardinals won their first-ever appearance in Alumni Gym 3-1 on Jan. 18,1997 but are 0-9 since.

The Ramblers have won their last three matches and have the reigning Sports Imports/AVCA and MIVA Shondell/Dunlap Division Player of the Week, senior James Grunst. Grunst is not only second in the nation with a .556 hitting percentage (238-35-365) but also is on pace to shatter Shawn Schroeder's .501 mark in the 2003 season. The middle blocker from Milwaukee, Wis. is also second on the team with 224 kills for a 2.41 kills-per-game average.

Nick Meyer leads the Cardinal attack with 4.42 kills per game followed by Todd Chamberlain who chips in 3.07. Matt McCarthy has a team-high .450 hitting percentage with 185 kills on 333 attempts and 74 total blocks. Ryan Clarke contributes up front with 1.23 blocks per game and Ian Peckler patrols the back row with 2.49 digs per game while Chamberlain adds 2.15. Jeff Schmitz and Ethan Pheister split time at setter with Schmitz averaging 11.32 assists per game and Pheister 5.78 assists per game.