rambler report - september 2015 issue

fall sports preview issue

elliot collier and men’s soccer have sights set on loyola’s first mvc title

September 2015

inside:basketball announces non-conference schedules

fall sports previews

Ramblers Welcome New leaders

Happy New Year!The Loyola women’s volleyball team kicked off the 2015-16 regular season home schedule with the Rambler Challenge last weekend, featuring Northwestern, Wake Forest, and New Hampshire. Senior Maureen Carls (#8), freshman Amanda Cushen (#7), sophomore Caroline Holt (#17), freshman Alex Nunez (#1), and freshman Morgan Gresham (#6) celebrate a point in a weekend that saw the Ramblers finish 1-2.

Kickin' into gearLoyola’s opening weekend in Rogers

Park also included the Women’s Soccer team hosting the Loyola Invitational. The Ramblers welcomed DePaul, St. Francis

(PA), and Eastern Michigan to Loyola Soccer Park, with Loyola splitting its pair of matches. Senior Jessica Bean (#11)

controls the ball against Eastern Michigan as fellow senior Kristin Rodriguez (#8)

looks on.

Volleyball hits the linksA group of Loyola men’s volleyball alumni and friends of the program pose for a picture during the 30th Annual Loyola Ramblers Golf Outing on August 13. The event, which is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Loyola athletic department, featured Rambler coaches, student-athletes, staff and over 230 golfers.

Soccer Preview

Rambler Report • September 2015 •

After posting the program’s first winning season since 2008 a year ago and with a league-high four Ramblers on the preseason All-Conference team, third-year head coach Neil Jones has his Loyola squad poised to compete for its first Missouri Valley Conference championship in 2015.

Two of the preseason All-Conference honorees are a pair of seniors who anchor the Rambler defense. Eric Schoendorf bounced back from a couple of injury-riddled campaigns in 2012 and 2013 to establish himself as a vital member of Loyola’s backline that posted a sparkling 0.71 goals against average last season, while Tim Dobrowolski led the Valley in save percentage (0.810) and tied for the lead in shutouts (8) en route to being named the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

Offensively, Loyola is led by sophomores Elliot Collier and Kyle Thomson, the other two Ramblers on the preseason All-Conference list. Collier, a Second Team All-Valley selection in 2014, led the Maroon & Gold in both goals (4) and points (10), ranking in the top 10 in the Valley in both categories as well. Thomson, named the Valley’s Freshman of the Year, found the back of the net from the penalty spot on two separate occasions as a freshman, developing into a key cog in the midfield as he played in every minute of every game.

Jones and his staff, who were recognized as the conference’s Coaching Staff of the Year last season, also welcome an eight-member recruiting class that received a 3.5-star rating out of five possible stars from College Soccer News, the second consecutive year a Loyola recruiting class was recognized.

Freshmen Alec Lasinski and Connor Stevenson arrive as

a venerable scoring duo and highlight the recruiting class. Lasinski was named the state of Michigan’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, a season where he racked up 32 goals and eight assists. Stevenson slotted home 62 goals and dished out 25 assists during his high school career in Minnesota and gained national attention when he was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) High School All-American Team as a senior.

The Ramblers, who were picked third in the preseason MVC coaches poll, are set to play nine of their 20 contests within the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park, where they posted a sparkling 6-0-2 overall record last season. Tough competition will remain a constant theme throughout the Ramblers’ schedule with matchups against schools from the Big Ten, the Big East, and the Atlantic 10.

“We are extremely excited about the schedule we have put together,” Jones stated. “Our philosophy when it comes to scheduling is to compete against a number of top level teams to prepare us to succeed in the very challenging and demanding Missouri Valley Conference. Once we move in to the MVC conference slate, the intensity of the games rises another notch which our players thrive on.”

August Results (0-2-0):Aug. 15 - vs. Milwaukee (Exh.), T 1-1Aug. 18 - @ Marquette (Exh.), W 2-1Aug. 22 - vs. Michigan (Exh.), T 1-1Aug. 28 - @ #20 UC-Irvine, L 0-1Aug. 30 - @ Cal State Northridge, L 2-1

september schedule:Sept. 4 – vs. Fordham, 7:00pmSept. 7 - @ Valparaiso, 7:00pmSept. 11 – vs. Stetson @ Northern Illinois, 4:00pmSept. 13 – vs. Florida Atlantic @ Northern Illinois, 11:00amSept. 19 – vs. Butler, 7:00pmSept. 25 - @ Bradley, 7:00pmSept. 29 – vs. DePaul, 7:00pm

men's soccer expectations high for 2015 campaignRamblers Place League-High Four on all-conference team

Senior Eric Schoendorf

Soccer Preview


Health, Youth Key for RamblersThe Loyola women’s soccer program battled through a rash of injuries during the 2014 season, finishing with a 5-13-1 record, including a 2-3-1 in MVC play that helped the team qualify for the conference tournament for the second consecutive year.

Fifth-year head coach Barry Bimbi returns six starters from last season’s squad, highlighted by a pair of 2014 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections in junior Shelby Koch and sophomore Katie Grall, to go along with a group of eight talented newcomers. That group is highlighted by freshmen Jenna Szczesny, a two-time Gatorade Illinois Girls Soccer Player of the Year, and goalkeeper Cassidy Lentz, the Co-Wisconsin State Player of the Year.

The team has been picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Evansville was chosen as the league’s top team, but will have to unseat two-time defending champion Illinois State.

“We are very excited to have put together another great schedule this year,” Bimbi commented. “Our schedule features six games against 2014 NCAA tournament teams (Wisconsin, South Dakota State, Northern Arizona, De Paul, Illinois State and Valparaiso) and a challenging opening weekend at UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina, both top-150 RPI teams from last season.”

The Ramblers opened the season in North Carolina with a couple double overtime contests, a victory against UNC-Greensboro and a draw at East Carolina, before splitting a pair of matches at the Loyola Invitational. A pair of freshman - Szczesny and Claire Oberle - lead the Loyola offense on the young season with two goals apiece.

August Results (2-1-1):Aug. 21 – @ UNC-Greensboro, W 3-2 (2OT)Aug. 23 – @ East Carolina, T 0-0 (2OT)Aug. 28 – vs. St. Francis (PA), W 2-0Aug. 30 – vs. Eastern Michigan, L 1-0

september schedule:Sept. 4 – @ Wisconsin, 7:00pmSept. 6 – vs. Army, 1:00pmSept. 11 – vs. South Dakota State @ Marquette, 3:00pmSept. 13 – vs. Northern Arizona @ Marquette, 11:00amSept. 17 – vs. DePaul, 7:00pmSept. 20 – @ Milwaukee, 1:00pmSept. 26 – @ Evansville, 3:00pmSept. 30 - @ Illinois State, 7:00pm

Sophomore Katie Grall

women’S volleyball Preview


fresh faces bring new excitement to volleyballA host of newcomers have joined the Loyola women’s volleyball program and have given the group a sense of renewed optimism heading into the 2015 season. Fifth-year head coach Chris Muscat welcomes back six starters from last year’s squad including junior Morgan Reardon, who racked up a team-high 392 kills a season ago. Sophomore Caroline Holt also returns as the team’s setter after an impressive freshman campaign that saw her top the Valley in total assists on the season.

Seniors Maureen Carls and Brittany Brown, as well as junior Sami Hansen, were all in the top five in the kills category on the team last year and look to provide some offensive punch at the net for the Ramblers. Senior libero Stephanie Kinane is the sixth returning starter for Muscat and will again anchor the back row for Loyola.

The six freshmen on the squad this season comprise a class that earned High Honorable Mention from Prep Volleyball, placing it between 55-97 in the country. In addition to the rookies, Loyola welcomes to the team Jackie Kocken, who played the last two seasons for Marquette.

The Ramblers, who are looking for their first appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament since joining the league two years ago, were tabbed to finish seventh in the conference’s annual coaches poll. The Valley continues to improve as a conference, with four teams winning more than 20 matches last year and finishing in the top-80 of the RPI.

Loyola will battle three NCAA Tournament teams from last season and face teams from the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast and Big East Conference while also hosting their first in-season tournament since 2009.

“As a staff, we spend a lot of time on scheduling and we think that this schedule provides great balance,” said

Muscat. “Between preparing our talented group for a tough Missouri Valley schedule while playing some great RPI matches at home and on the road, we feel like this schedule will test us early and give us the opportunity to see what both our veterans and seven newcomers can do this season as we continue to build towards a Valley championship.”

Loyola opened the season with a gritty win over New Hampshire, the two-time defending champions of the American East Conference (18-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-23). Two Ramblers collected double-doubles in the victory, as Reardon tallied 20 kills and 12 digs, while freshman Morgan Gresham recorded 10 kills and 17 digs.

Using a number of different lineups, the Ramblers fell to Wake Forest and Northwestern to wrap up the Rambler Challenge. Loyola will now spend some time away from home at three different tournaments in September before returning to Gentile Arena for Missouri Valley Conference play.

August Results (1-2):Aug. 28 - vs. New Hampshire, W 3-1Aug. 28 - vs. Wake Forest, L 3-0Aug. 29 - vs. Northwestern, L 3-0

September schedule:Sept. 4-5 – @ Bowling Green TournamentSept. 11-12 – @ Valparaiso TournamentSept. 18-19 – @ Cornell TournamentSept. 24 – @ Bradley, 6:00pmSept. 28 – vs. Drake, 6:00pm

Senior Brittany Brown

Senior Maureen Carls


croSS country & Golf

Cross Country Ready to Fill Big ShoesThe men’s and women’s cross country teams begin the 2015 slate this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin at the Thomas Zimmer Open and will compete in five other meets before heading to Evansville for the Missouri Valley Conference championships at the end of October.

The men’s team will have to replace the presence of Sam Penzenstadler, who graduated last year as one of the most decorated track and field and cross country athletes in Loyola history. Penzenstadler led Loyola in its last 12 cross country meets spanning both his junior and senior seasons before qualifying for the NCAA Championships last year.

The Ramblers, however, return six runners with conference experience, including top finishers Alex Baker and Chandler Diffee. Baker is coming off an impressive track and field season in the spring, as the junior captured the 5000m title at the MVC Outdoor Championships. The men were picked to finish fifth in the conference in the preseason poll.

On the women’s side, the Ramblers are tabbed for a fourth-place finish in the annual preseason coaches poll. Loyola returns seven of eight runners from last year’s squad that placed sixth at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships, including top finishers Lindsey Brewis, Ericka Laviste, Emma Hatch and Hannah Magnuson. Sydney Stuenkel, Loyola’s top placer at last year’s NCAA Midwest Regional, also returns for her senior season.

september schedule:Sept. 4 – Thomas Zimmer Open, Madison, WISept. 11 – Illinois State Invite, Normal, ILSept. 18 – Notre Dame Invitational, South Bend, IN

Golf teams earn high academic honors This past summer, the Loyola Golf program received a number of impressive academic awards. The men’s team was honored with the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Team Academic Award. The Ramblers finished the 2014-15 academic year with a 3.27 grade point average and were one of 90 Division I men’s golf programs to be recognized.

“I’m proud of our team and the work they consistently put in off the golf course,” Loyola Director of Golf Kyle Stefan said. “We have asked more of them as we try to improve in the Missouri Valley Conference, and they responded with a solid team effort academically last season.”

On the women’s side, senior Bernice Sitompul, junior Logan Willis, and sophomore Summer Moser were named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA).

Sitompul, a finance major out of Jakarta, Indonesia, was recognized by the WGCA for the third consecutive year, while putting together her finest individual season on the course for the Ramblers. Willis, a film and media production major, is also a repeat honoree of the All-American award. Moser not only excelled in the classroom, but enjoyed a wildly successful rookie season with a team-low 79.6 stroke average.

“It’s important for Bernice, Logan and Summer to earn this award because they are team leaders,” Loyola Director of Golf Kyle Stefan commented. “Being named an All-American Scholar by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association is a true reflection of the hard work they put in on and off the golf course.”

Senior Bernice Sitompul

Senior Sydney Stuenkel

meet the new ramblerS

Athletic Director Steve Watson announced the hiring of Tom Sorboro and Jermaine Truax to upper-administrative positions last month. Sorboro will serve as the department’s Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations while Truax is set for the role of Deputy Athletics Director. The pair bring a wealth of experience with them to Rogers Park and round out Watson’s administrative team before the start of the 2015-16 season.

“I am very pleased to have Tom and Jermaine on board at Loyola,” said Watson. “Not only are they hard workers with proven track records but they will also easily integrate themselves within the department and University communities. I have first-hand knowledge of the high-level work that each of them produces and they will both play vital roles as our athletic department continues to progress.”

Sorboro comes to Loyola after serving as the Senior Sales Executive and Associate General Manager for the Ohio State IMG Sports Network. While in those positions, he was responsible for recognizing opportunities and closing integrated corporate partnership agreements to help achieve revenue goals in addition to providing direction and leadership for the property.

After graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1992, Sorboro began his collegiate administrative career with a four-year stint as the Director of Athletic Marketing & Promotions at Davidson before moving into the basketball coaching ranks. After one season at Wayne State, Sorboro was on staff as an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland, Michigan and James Madison over the next six years before heading back into the business world. He returned to athletics in

2007 as the Associate General Manager at ISP Sports, managing accounts for Pittsburgh and East Carolina before moving to IMG.

Truax arrives in Chicago after a five-year stint at Bowling Green, the last two as the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Administration. While at Bowling Green, Truax supervised the department’s compliance office and served as interim director of the Falcons’ academic office in addition to functioning as the sport administrator for men’s and women’s cross country, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field and women’s gymnastics.

“I would like to thank Tom Kelly, Steve Watson, and the search committee for this tremendous opportunity to join Loyola,” said Truax. “Steve is terrific Athletics Director who will help take this department to new heights, and I am grateful that he has selected me to help lead in that process. There is considerable, positive buzz on campus and in the athletics department, and I am excited to join a talented group of coaches, staff, and student-athletes.”

Truax got his start in athletic administration from Watson at St. Bonaventure in 2008, spending one year as the Coordinator of Internal Operations before taking over as the school’s Director of Compliance. He also served as the defensive backs coach for two seasons at Alfred State College from 2008-09.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2006 from Edinboro University, where he was a defensive back on the school’s football team, and went on to obtain a master’s degree in Sport Management from Slippery Rock in 2008.


Watson adds seasoned pair to leadership teamSorboro, truax began duties in august

Steve Watson, Athletic Director


baSketball uPdateS basketball programs announce non-conference schedulesMark your calendars for the men's and women's basketball non-conference schedule. Men's basketball season tickets are now on sale for as little as $10 per game! Women’s basketball season tickets are on sale September 8.

Men's basketball: Nov. 13 - vs. UT-San AntonioNov. 14 - vs. Eureka CollegeNov. 18 - @ New MexicoNov. 21 - vs. ToledoNov. 25-28 - Great Alaska ShootoutDec. 5 - vs. CreightonDec. 13 - @ Notre DameDec. 16 - vs. Cleveland StateDec. 19 - vs. UICDec. 21 - vs. Western Illinois

woMen's basketball: Nov. 13 - @ Georgia TechNov. 17 - @ Eastern IllinoisNov. 21 - vs. Miami (FL)Nov. 25 - vs. Central MichiganNov. 28 - vs. LamarDec. 2 - vs. Western MichiganDec. 6 - @ Michigan StateDec. 13 - vs. NorthwesternDec. 16 - @ Green BayDec. 21 - @ DePaulDec. 28 - @ Rice

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Regulation Review The beginning of another academic year at Loyola is a great time to review a few regulations that govern how we conduct our athletics program.

We welcome and appreciate your continued support of our teams, our student-athletes and our coaches and we ask your help in preserving the integrity of our program and the eligibility of our student-athletes.

Loyola University is responsible for ensuring all our coaches, administrators, university faculty and staff, and student-athletes are aware of and following NCAA rules. In addition, Loyola is also responsible for the actions of any individual(s) who is a “representative of athletics interest” (also known as a booster). Compliance with NCAA regulations requires the effort of everyone associated with an institution’s athletics program. Violations of NCAA rules could affect the eligibility of student-athletes or prospective student-athletes and could result in NCAA penalties against the student-athlete, prospective student-athlete, the university and you.

Below is a brief overview of current rules that are important for you to know. This information is not all-inclusive, as the rules and regulations are vast. If you have further questions or need clarification, please contact me at (773) 508-2894 or [email protected].

booster definitionA representative of the institution’s athletic interest, or booster, is any person, agency, business or other organization that is known (or should have been known) by a member of Loyola’s executive or athletics administration to:

• Have ever been a member of or participated in the activities of any organization promoting Loyola Athletics (e.g., Rambler Varsity Club);

• Have ever assisted or been requested to assist in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families (e.g., providing an occasional meal);

• Have ever been involved otherwise in promoting Loyola Athletics; and/or

• Have ever been a member of a varsity team at Loyola (this includes the parents and legal guardians of current and former student-athletes)

Once a person, agency, business or other organization is identified as a “representative of athletics interests,” that person/entity retains that identify for life.

recruiting do's and don'tsAlthough recruitment of prospects is reserved for authorized university staff members only:

YOU MAY:• Forwardinformation(e.g.,vianewspaperclippings,

internet postings, telephone calls to coaching staff members, etc.) about a prospect to Loyola coaching staff members.

• View a prospect’s athletic contest on your owninitiative provided there is a clear understanding that contact with any participating prospective student-athletes, their parents/legal guardians, relatives, coach, guidance counselor, etc. cannot be made.

• Continueestablishedrelationshipswithfriendsandneighbors, even if their sons and daughters are of prospect age. In addition, such contact may not be made for a recruiting purpose or at the direction or encouragement of Loyola’s staff members or coaches.

Jay Malcolm, Associate Athletic Director of Compliance

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But please, DO NOT:• Write,email,text,telephoneor“friend”(i.e.,social

networking sites) in an effort to recruit him or her to Loyola.

• Contactaprospect’scoach,principalorcounselorfor the purpose of recruiting the prospect (e.g., meeting with counselor, picking up game film of the prospect, etc.).

• Contactaprospecttocongratulatehimorheroncommitting to Loyola – even if he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent, financial aid agreement or admissions offer.

• Directlyor indirectlymakeanyarrangementforaprospect to receive cash, financial aid of any kind or loans of any kind (including signing or cosigning for a loan).

• MakecontactwithaprospectwhenheorsheisonLoyola’s campus for an official or unofficial visit.

• Provideaprospectwithanycost-freeordiscountedgifts or services, including tickets to Loyola home or away contests and payment of camp registration fees.

• Provide anything to a prospect without obtainingprior approval from the Office of Compliance.

• Contact a student from another university toencourage him or her to transfer to Loyola.

• Offer,provideorarrangefinancialassistancetopayany costs or expenses for a prospective student-athlete or his/her family. This includes expenses related to the prospect’s education.

booster guidelines As a booster, YOU MAY:

• Provide a pre-approved occasionalmeal at yourhome for a student-athlete or team, but not for their families or friends.

• Providelocaltransportationtoastudent-athleteforthe occasional meal at your home.

• Employastudent-athleteduringtheacademicyearor summer. The student-athlete must be paid at the going rate and only for work actually performed.

• DonateticketstoLoyolaforaprofessionalsportscontest for the entertainment of student-athletes involved in an away-from-home athletics contest. Loyola must distribute the tickets to the athletes.

• Contribute to the Rambler Varsity Club. Thisorganization helps provide the resources necessary for Loyola student-athletes to receive a first-class education and a championship athletic experience.

But please, DO NOT:• Provide a current student-athlete, their parents or

friends with a benefit or special arrangement without prior approval from the Office of Compliance.

• Provide, cosign or arrange a loan for a student-athlete, the student-athlete’s parents, relatives or friends - no matter the amount.

• Pay for, arrange for payment of or provide cost-free room, board or transportation for a student-athlete or their family and friends.

• Provide or arrange for the provision of gifts or free or reduced-cost services of any kind (e.g., restaurant meals, summer storage space, use of laundry facilities, retail discounts, etc.).

• Entertain student-athletes or their families (except as permitted above regarding the occasional meal to a student-athlete).

• Provide awards to student-athletes which are not approved by Loyola Athletics or not provided through the university. All awards provided to student-athletes must meet NCAA guidelines.

Thank you!Thank you for taking time to review this important information and, of course, for your support of Loyola Athletics! As a member of the Loyola community, we need your commitment to following the NCAA regulations, to asking questions when you are not sure, and to reporting violations of which you are aware.

Please contact me at [email protected] or 773.508.2894 with any questions or concerns.

(773) 508-WOLF WWW.LOyOLarambLers.cOm

#OnWardLU

rambler report - september 2015 issue

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