Dec. 15, 2006

CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball finished third in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association's Preseason Poll, the conference announced Thursday. The Ramblers are seeking their third consecutive MIVA regular-season championship and first-ever MIVA Tournament championship in 2007.

In a vote conducted by the seven head coaches in MIVA's Shondell/Dunlap Division, the Ramblers finished behind Ohio State (two first-place votes) and preseason favorite IPFW (five first-place votes), last season's MIVA Tournament champion. Ball State follows Loyola in fourth place with Lewis in fifth, Quincy in sixth then Mercyhurst in seventh.

Middle hitter James Grunst and setter Brian Guntli were both named to the All-MIVA Preseason Team. Ohio State and Ball State both had two all-conference selections as well while IPFW led the conference with three.

Grunst became Loyola's first underclassman to earn First-Team All-America honors last season with the school's second-highest hitting percentage for a season (.490). Guntli distributed 1,264 assists last season, the tenth-highest total in school history, as the starter in 29 matches to earn First-Team All-MIVA honors.

Loyola begins its 2007 season against Lindenwood at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 in Alumni Gym. MIVA Shondell/Dunlap Division play begins Friday, Jan. 19 when Loyola hosts IPFW.