March 20, 2007

CHICAGO - The Loyola women's volleyball team gets its 2007 spring season underway this weekend (Mar. 24), when it travels to Kalamazoo, Mich. and Western Michigan University of the first of three tournaments. The Ramblers stay local for the other two events, competing at Palos Courts on the Southside on Mar. 31 before staying on campus and hosting the Three Wise Men Invitational the weekend of Apr. 14.

Loyola will join NCAA Tournament teams Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue - which advanced to the Round of 16 - as well as Horizon League newcomer Valparaiso at the Western Michigan Spring Tournament. The teams will play four opponents in one game to 30 points in the morning session before getting re-pooled for the afternoon session, which will consist of a pair of best-two-of-three matches, with games one and two being played to 25 points and game three to 15 points.

The following weekend, two more NCAA teams await as the Ramblers will face Duke and Northern Iowa on the Palos Courts. Northwestern, Northern Illinois and Illinois State are also among the participating teams.

The Ramblers conclude their spring season two weeks later, playing host to the Three Wise Men Invitational at the Gentile Center. Missouri, which advanced to the NCAA Second Round last season, will participate along with Horizon League foes Illinois-Chicago, UW-Green Bay and Valparaiso as well as Bradley, Illinois State and DePaul.

Loyola loses three seniors from last year's squad but returns four starters and adds a solid group of newcomers that includes four freshmen and UConn transfer Sarah Singer.