softballPreview Issue

First year head coach Tylka ready to get started

february 2015

inside:#1 Men’s Volleyball Off to Hot Start

Men’s Basketball Fights on in valley play

Men’s & Women’s Golf Spring Previews

senior Tarran Shaffer

How Sweet It IsMembers of the 1985 men’s basketball

team were honored at Loyola Alumni Day against Illinois State on January

31st for the 30th anniversary of its trip to the Sweet 16. Pictured are (left to

right) Tom Cooney, Mike Cenar, Tom Hitcho, Bob Clark, Greg Williams, Ivan

Young, Alfredrick Hughes, Carl Golston, Stephond Robinson, Andre Wakefield,

Dave Klusendorf, Nate Brooks, and Doug Bruno.

Loyola's Banner DayA group of Loyola men’s volleyball alumni helped unveil the 2014 NCAA National Championship Banner in a ceremony before the team’s home opener against Harvard, a match the Ramblers took 3-0.

put a ring on itThe 2014 men’s volleyball team was presented with their NCAA National

Championship rings during a ceremony at halftime of the Loyola-Illinois State

men’s basketball game.

Men’s BasketBall Updates

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 8

James Steps Forward in Doyle's AbsenceWith sophomore guard Milton Doyle out with an ankle injury, junior forward Montel James has been carrying the load offensively for Loyola since Doyle’s absence. In the last four games, James has averaged 14.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a game, including a career-high 22-point, 7-rebound effort in his last outing against Illinois State. James became the second Rambler to earn the Missouri Valley Conference’s Newcomer of the Week award two weeks ago, after teammate Earl Peterson won the honor in December.

Despite James’ efforts, the Ramblers have struggled offensively without Doyle’s 11.5 points and 4.2 assists a game. Since Doyle reinjured his ankle

against Wichita State, Loyola has averaged 52 points a game and has dropped six of its last seven to fall to 13-9 overall and 3-7 in MVC play. The Ramblers currently sit in a tie for sixth place in the c o n f e r e n c e with Drake and Missouri State.

Senior forward C h r i s t i a n Thomas has been one of Loyola’s most c o n s i s t e n t p l a y e r s t h r o u g h o u t his career and his senior

season has been littered with personal m i l e s t o n e s . T h o m a s eclipsed the 1,200 point mark in January and currently sits 24th on Loyola’s all-time scoring list. Thomas is also one of only six active Division I athletes to record 1,000 points, grab 600 rebounds and sink 20 three-pointers while shooting over 50 percent from the floor.

The Ramblers turn the page on an extremely tough calendar month from a schedule perspective. Loyola has already completed its season series with Wichita State and Evansville and road trips to MVC-leader Northern Iowa and third-place Indiana State. The Ramblers now turn their attention to February, when they only have to make one road trip to a team currently in the top half of the standings.

Upcoming Schedule:Feb. 4 - @Missouri State, 8pmFeb. 7 – vs. Indiana State, 3pmFeb. 11 – vs. Southern Illinois, 7pmFeb. 15 - @Bradley, TBAFeb. 18 – vs. Northern Iowa, 7pmFeb. 21 - @Illinois State, 7pmFeb. 25 - @Drake, 7pmFeb. 28 – vs. Missouri State, TBAJunior Montel James

Junior Devon Turk

know YoUr raMBlers

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 9

favorite chicago restaurant

favorite tv show

favorite LoyoLa sport (other than my own)

if you couLd have dinner with

one person…

favorite cartoon as a kid

softBall preview

Ramblers Retool for 2015 Softball CampaignFollowing a three-year stint as an assistant, first-year head coach Jeff Tylka takes the reins of the Loyola softball program this year from Missy Beseres, who took a position at Wisconsin after racking up 105 victories in four seasons for the Ramblers. Loyola is coming off a 25-31 season and finished the year with a surprise run to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship game before falling to Bradley 8-7 in the final.

Tylka’s first order of business will be finding a replacement for departed pitcher Brittany Gardner, who graduated last season as Loyola’s all-time leader in wins (67), innings pitched (751.2), and strikeouts (753). Gardner’s storied career included four first team all-conference selections, two conference pitcher of the year awards, and two all-region team honors.

The most experienced options for Tylka include juniors Ashley Rogers, who has 20 career starts under her belt for the Ramblers, and Kristina Vizza, who has pitched the majority of her 56 career innings out of the bullpen. Tylka could also call on freshmen Madison Hope, who was named to Canada’s National Team pool last fall, and Amanda Staheli from Pecatonica, IL.

The Ramblers also lose the production of Loyola’s career RBI leader Lauren Moore; however a trio of seniors and

returning starters are set to anchor the lineup this spring. Infielder Jessica Balzano was second on the team in hitting a year ago with a .284 batting average and led the squad with a .354 on-base percentage. Catcher Tarran Shaffer hit .301 in conference play and earned second-team all-MVC honors as Loyola’s backstop, and outfielder Annie Korth started 46 games last season and was fifth on the team with a .258 average. Three junior infielders, Brie Pasquale, Katy LaCivita, and Alyssa Mannucci, also return after sophomore seasons with significant time in the starting lineup.

Loyola enters the season picked as the eight-place team in the MVC as voted on by the league’s coaches, with Wichita State selected as the preseason favorite. After co-hosting the Total Control Sports Invitational in Rosemont to open the season, the Ramblers hit the road for tournaments in Arizona, Nashville, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston, South Carolina before returning home to start Valley play in mid-March.

“I think our schedule does a good job of challenging us prior to the MVC season,” said Tylka. “Each week will give us a chance to grow as a team and hopefully be playing our best come the end of May.”

2015 ScheduleFeb. 6-8 – Total Control Sports Invitational, Rosemont, ILFeb. 13-15 – Hillenbrand Invitational, Tucson, AZFeb. 20-22 – Tiger Softball Classic, Nashville, TNFeb. 27-Mar. 1 – Coastal Carolina Invitational, Myrtle Beach, SCMar. 4 - @Charleston SouthernMar. 6-8 – Holy City Showdown, Charleston, SCMar. 14-15 - @EvansvilleMar. 21-22 – vs. Northern IowaMar. 28-29 – vs. BradleyApr. 1 – vs. UICApr. 3-4 - @DrakeApr. 8 - @Northern IllinoisApr. 11-12 - @Missouri StateApr. 15 – vs. Indiana StateApr. 16 - @DePaulApr. 18-19 – vs. Southern IllinoisApr. 22 - @Indiana StateApr. 25-26 - @Illinois StateMay 2-3 – vs. Wichita StateMay 7-9 – MVC Championships, Wichita, KS

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 10

Head Coach Jeff Tylka

Golf preview

Men's Golf PreviewThe Loyola men’s golf team heads into the spring season hoping to build off a bit of momentum built at the end of the fall season when it captured a team title at the Rambler Roundup in Evanston. The Ramblers will compete in six events in six different states during their 2015 spring slate, culminating with the Missouri Valley Conference championships in April.

"Our men's schedule gets progressively tougher," Loyola Director of Golf Kyle Stefan said. "We have events at outstanding facilities against tough fields. This is exactly what we will face in Missouri for the MVC Championship so we want to make sure we are prepared. I think the rigors of this schedule will help us in that regard."

Loyola will be led by senior Nick Dennis, a MVC All-Conference team selection during a stellar junior campaign last year. Freshman Garret Buckley, who produced a team-low 74.6 stroke average during the fall season, and sophomore Ben Holm both earned MVC Golfer of the Week honors in the fall and figure to be fixtures in the Rambler lineup this spring.

Men's 2015 ScheduleFeb. 16-17 – Bronc Intercollegiate, Edinburg, TXMar. 13-14 – Pinehurst Intercollegiate, Pinehurst, NCMar. 22-25 – Middleburg Bank Intercollegiate, Kingsmill, VAApr. 3-4 – Bradley Spring Invitational, Peoria, IL Apr. 13-14 – Greenbrier Intercollegiate, White Sulphur Springs, WVApr. 27-28 – MVC Championship, Porta Cima, MO

Women's Golf PreviewLoyola women’s golf squad relied on youth en route to a pair of team championships during the fall season. The Ramblers’ top four golfers in stroke average last fall were two freshmen, a sophomore and a junior.

Freshman Summer Moser won medalist honors at the Loyola Fall Invitational, while fellow rookie Jessie Staed produced a team-best 78.0 stroke average in the fall. Sophomore Logan Willis returns with a MVC Golfer of the Week honor to her credit from the fall, and junior Olivia Lindsley has shown steady improvement during her time in Rogers Park.

"I think the schedule will prepare us to play our best at the Missouri Valley Championship," Stefan commented. "We will face strong competition throughout at good golf courses. We have a pair of events where we will see some southern programs, and I think we will be competitive as we have been in the past. We also have a pair of conference events as we get ready to compete in the MVC Championship which is played right here in the Midwest.”

Women's 2015 ScheduleMar. 1-3 – Kiawah Island Intercollegiate, Kiawah Island, SCMar. 30-31 – Georgetown Hoya Invitational, Washington DCApr. 3-4 – Bradley Spring Invitational, Peoria, ILApr. 12-13 – Indiana State Spring Invitational, Terre Haute, INApr. 19-21 – MVC Championship, Burlington, IA

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 11

Senior Nick Dennis

Sophomore Logan Willis

Men’s volleYBall Updates

Top-Ranked Volleyball Team Cruises through January

The Loyola men’s volleyball team entered the season with a target on its back after a 29-1 season that ended with the program’s first national championship. The Ramblers stormed out of the gate with a 7-0 start to begin the 2015 campaign, including victories over BYU, Stanford, and Penn State, and have shown little signs of the pressure that comes with defending a national title.

The Ramblers’ attack has been led by senior Cody Caldwell and junior Thomas Jaeschke, who are the top two in the conference in kills per set and fifth and seventh respectively in the country. Caldwell has 94 kills (4.27 k/s) on the season and has a pair of 19-kill performances against BYU and Penn State already under his belt. Jaeschke is one kill behind Caldwell (4.04 k/s) and leads Loyola with 55 digs. The junior has notched two double-doubles on the year with an 18-kill, 15-dig effort against BYU and a 21-kill, 13-dig performance at Penn State.

Junior Peter Hutz continues to run an efficient offense,

leading the conference with 11.68 assists per set, which is the second-best mark in the nation. After losing opposite hitter Joe Smalzer and libero Peter Jasaitis to graduation, two freshmen have moved seamlessly into the starting rotation this season. Freshman Jeff Jendryk has started all seven matches and leads the team with 33 blocks. The Wheaton native was named National Freshman of the Week after Loyola’s opening matches with BYU and Stanford. Fellow rookie Jake Selsky has taken over the libero spot and is fourth on the team in digs.

This month, the Ramblers open play in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, a conference that currently has five squads in the Top 15 poll. Loyola sits in the top spot, while Lewis (#3), IPFW (#11), Ohio State (#12) and Ball State (#13) join the Ramblers in the rankings. Loyola will take a break from conference play in mid-February when it hosts Erskine and Penn State, two NCAA tournament teams from a year ago.

Upcoming Schedule:Feb. 7 - @McKendree, 4pmFeb. 12 - @IPFW, 6pmFeb. 14 – vs. Ball State, 7pmFeb. 20 – vs. Erskine, 7pmFeb. 21 – vs. Penn State, 7pmFeb. 26 – vs. Quincy, 7pmFeb. 28 – vs. Lindenwood, TBA

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 12

Freshman Jake Selsky

Senior Cody Caldwell

Men’s volleYBall Updates

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 13

The 2014 Men’s Volleyball team was honored at halftime of the Loyola-Illinois State men’s basketball game as part of Loyola Alumni Day. The Ramblers were presented with their 2014 NCAA National Championship rings.

track & field Updates

Ramblers with Impressive Marks during Indoor SeasonThe Loyola track and field program claimed 12 event titles and notched several impressive performances in events at Indiana University and the University of Illinois during the month of January. Senior Sam Penzenstadler picked up where he left off last season by winning titles in the 800m and the mile, which he finished in a time of 4:02.18, the fastest current time in the MVC and ninth-best in the country. Senior James McLachlan also holds the top mark in the conference and ninth-best in the nation in his event with a 7.60m effort in the long jump, which was good enough for an event title at the Indiana Relays.

Senior Alison Szykowny broke her own school shot put record with a 14.86m mark in a victory at the Indiana Relays. Junior Jake Marzanke also added two titles in the 600m and the 800m events. Other first-place finishes for Loyola in January were Chris Strup (60m), Nicholas Prajka (600m), Breanna Walker (200m), the men’s 4x400 squad, and the men’s distance medley team.

Loyola Recognizes Outstanding Performances at Annual BanquetThe Loyola Track & Field and Cross Country program hosted its fourth annual alumni and team banquet last January. The event was held to honor recent academic and athletic accomplishments, as well as celebrate the 2014 senior class for their contributions to the program.

In addition to the team awards, two Ramblers received special recognition. Senior Sam Penzenstadler received his NCAA First-Team All-American certificate, while junior Ashley Wile was recognized

as the recipient of the MVC Courage Award after surviving her battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year.

2014 Award Winners:Tom O’Hara Outstanding Male Distance Runner: Sam PenzenstadlerLeigh Ann Renk Outstanding Female Distance Runner: Alyvia ClarkReva Bess Outstanding Female Sprinter: Breanna Walker & Jade KinneyGeorge Crosby Outstanding Male Sprinter: Kevin GlastetterExcellence in Field (Female): Alison SzykownyExcellence in Field (Male): Antwon James

Upcoming Schedule:Feb. 6-7 – Meyo Invitational, South Bend, INFeb. 7 – Windy City Invitational, Chicago, ILFeb. 13-14 – GVSU Big Meet, Allendale, MIFeb. 21 – Alex Wilson Invitational, South Bend, INFeb. 21 – Margaret Bradley Invitational, Chicago, IL

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 14

Senior Alison Szykowny

woMen’s BasketBall Updates

Johnson, Manuel Forming Strong DuoSophomore Taylor Johnson has teamed up with fellow sophomore Taylor Manuel to form an effective inside-out combination for the Ramblers since returning to the lineup two weeks ago. Johnson is averaging 11 points a game for Loyola since her return, while Manuel has continued her strong play with averages of 14.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Manuel, who is currently seventh in points and third in rebounds in the MVC during conference play, set a new career high with 17 rebounds to go along with 12 points, three assists and two blocks against Southern Illinois

last weekend.

Loyola has struggled to find its footing this season and has dealt with a slew of different injuries and inconsistent play. The Ramblers suffered two heartbreaking defeats last week in a one-point loss to Bradley and a 64-58 setback at Southern Illinois, a game in which the Ramblers led by as many as 10 in the second half. Loyola turns the calendar to February searching for its first conference

win on the season, while its overall record sits at 2-18.

Upcoming Schedule:Feb. 6 – vs. Evansville, 7pmFeb. 8 – vs. Indiana State, 2pmFeb. 13 - @Wichita State, 7pmFeb. 15 - @Missouri State, 7pmFeb. 20 - @Bradley, 7pmFeb. 27 – vs. Illinois State, 7pmMar. 1 – vs. Southern Illinois, 2pmMar. 5 - @Northern Iowa, 7pmMar. 7 - @Drake, 2pm

Rambler Report • February 2015 • Page 15

Sophomore Taylor Manuel

Sophomore Taylor Johnson

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