Quick-hit guide to MIVA Tournament quarterfinal matches

Photo courtesy of Lewis athletics and Steve Woltmann

The MIVA Tournament bracket and the quarterfinal match-ups are set.

Check out the quick-hit guide of what to know about each opening-round match before filling out your MIVA Tournament bracket in the Off the Block bracket challenge.

No. 1 seed Lewis (22-5, 13-1 MIVA) vs. No. 8 seed Quincy (16-11, 8-6 MIVA)
Match vitals:
7 p.m. Saturday in Romeoville, Illinois
Season series: Lewis leads 2-0 (sweep on Feb. 9; sweep on Saturday)
Last MIVA Tournament title: Lewis (2012); Quincy (never)
Stats to know: Lewis is 14-3 all-time in postseason home matches under coach Dan Friend and has never lost a home quarterfinals match in the MIVA Tournament. Quincy is attempting to become the first No. 8 seed to win a MIVA Tournament match during the NCAA era.

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No. 2 seed Loyola (19-7, 12-2 MIVA) vs. No. 7 seed Ohio State (10-18, 5-9 MIVA)
Match vitals:
7 p.m. Saturday in Chicago
Season series: Loyola leads 2-0 (sweep on Feb. 24; sweep on March 29)
Last MIVA Tournament title: Loyola (2015); Ohio State (2018)
Stats to know: This conference tournament quarterfinal match will feature the two programs that have won four of the last five NCAA championships. It also will be the first time the Ramblers and Buckeyes have meet in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals since 1997. Loyola is 13-1 in postseason matches at the Gentile Arena since moving into the new home venue in 2012. Ohio State is attempting to become the first No. 7 seed to advance to the semifinals in the history of the MIVA Tournament.

No. 3 seed Purdue Fort Wayne (16-11, 8-6 MIVA) vs. No. 6 seed Lindenwood (9-18, 5-9 MIVA)
Match vitals:
7 p.m. Saturday in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Season series: Purdue Fort Wayne leads 2-0 (sweep on March 3; five-game win on March 30)
Last MIVA Tournament title Purdue Fort Wayne (2007); Lindenwood (never)
Stats to know: The Mastodons have gone through two school renamings (IPFW to Fort Wayne to Purdue Fort Wayne) since they last won a MIVA Tournament match in 2014. However, Purdue Fort Wayne has won its quarterfinals match the last two times it was a No. 3 seed — the other four times as a No. 3 seed the MIVA Tournament did not include a quarterfinal round. Lindenwood’s only postseason victory since joining the MIVA in 2013 was an upset road victory against the No. 4 seed IPFW in the 2015 quarterfinals.

No. 4 seed McKendree (12-12, 7-7 MIVA) vs. No. 5 seed Ball State (15-14, 6-8 MIVA)
Match vitals:
Saturday in Lebanon, Illinois (start time not yet announced)
Season series: Tied at 1-1 (McKendree won in three games on Feb. 7; Ball State won in five games on Thursday)
Last MIVA Tournament title McKendree (never); Ball State (2002)
Stats to know: McKendree is playing host to its first postseason home match in program history. In addition, the Bearcats only MIVA Tournament victory was an upset road sweep against the Cardinals in the 2016 quarterfinals. Ball State has not won a postseason road match since beating Grand Canyon in the 2012 MIVA Tournament quarterfinals. The Cardinals, though, have advanced to the MIVA Tournament semifinals in all but three seasons during the rally scoring era, including sweeping the Bearcats in the quarterfinals last year.