April 21, 2008

CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago senior opposite hitter Ian Anderson earned Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association First Team All-Conference honors it was announced by the conference office last week. Anderson was joined by teammates Nick Lamoureux and Kris Berzins who garnered Second Team All-MIVA recognition.

After being named to the second team in 2007, Anderson received first-team recognition for the first time in his career. The Wauwatosa, Wis., native ranks fifth in Loyola school history with 483 kills in a single-season. He is nationally ranked in two separate categories, as he averages 4.81 points and 4.14 kills per game, respectively. This season, Anderson has topped the 20-kill plateau seven times, including a career-best, 33-kill performance at Hawaii.

Lamoureux, a middle blocker, picked up second-team honors for the first time in his career. The junior from Wheaton, Ill., leads the Ramblers in hitting percentage (.392) and blocks per game (0.88) and averages 2.73 kills per game. In 2008, Lamoureux has recorded double-figure kills on 16 occasions and registered a career-high 23 kills versus then-No. 11 George Mason.

A sophomore from Brinklow, Md., Berzins garnered Second Team All-MIVA accolades for the first time in his career. The outside hitter has notched four double-doubles for the Ramblers this season and averages 3.40 kills and 1.60 digs per game. Berzins has registered double-figure kills for Loyola on 16 occasions and has led the team in kills a half dozen times. He earned MIVA Player of the Week honors (1/15) after he posted 18 kills and 10 digs while hitting .342 in a victory over Ball State.

The Ramblers head to Ohio State to battle the top-seeded Buckeyes in the MIVA Semifinals on Thursday, April 24. This marks the eighth straight year Loyola has appeared in the MIVA Semifinals. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m.

Below are the 2008 MIVA All-Conference Teams:

First Team
Ian Anderson (OPP), Loyola
Jared Dayton (OH), Lewis
Patrick Durbin (OA), Ball State
Robbie Klein (OH), Ohio State
C.J. Macias (OH), IPFW
Daniel Mathews (S), Ohio State
Matt McCarthy (MA), Ball State
Ian Peckler (L), Ball State
Brett Versen (OH), Ohio State
Jason Yhost (OH), IPFW

Second Team
Kris Berzins (OH), Loyola
Todd Chamberlain (OA), Ball State
Mike Iandolo (S), Lewis
Nick Lamoureux (MB), Loyola
Conor Martin (L), Ohio State
Ethan Pheister (S), Ball State
Billy Sahagian (MB), Lewis
Ben Spurlock (MH), Ohio State
Josh Stewart (MH), IPFW
Alex Vigansky (MB), Lewis