Initial look at MIVA Tournament semifinals

Photo courtesy of Loyola athletics

Four MIVA teams remain with one automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament still on the line.

Check out match-ups and the historical tidbits to know before the MIVA Tournament semifinals on Saturday.

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No. 1 seed Lewis (18-2, 12-2 MIVA) vs. No. 4 seed Ball State (12-7, 8-6 MIVA)
Match vitals:
7 p.m. Saturday in Romeoville, Illinois
Season series: Lewis swept both matches against Ball State during a two-match home series in March.
All-time series: Lewis leads 33-32
MIVA Tournament championships: Lewis (1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2019); Ball State (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002)
NCAA Tournament championships: Lewis (none); Ball State (none)
How they reached the semifinals: Lewis swept Quincy in the quarterfinals, while Ball State defeated Ohio State in four games in the quarterfinals.
Next up on the bracket: The winner of this match will advance to the finals and play the winner of the Loyola versus McKendree semifinals match.
Stats to know: The last time a No. 1 seed lost in the MIVA Tournament semifinals and failed to reach the finals was 2005. Lewis is on a 12-match home winning streak against Ball State with the Cardinals last winning in Romeoville in 2010. Ball State has not reached the MIVA Tournament finals since 2009 when it defeated Lewis in the conference tournament semifinals.

No. 2 seed Loyola (14-5, 9-5 MIVA) vs. No. 3 seed McKendree (11-5, 9-5 MIVA)
Match vitals:
5 p.m. Saturday in Chicago
Season series: Loyola swept McKendree and then won in four games to complete a two-match series home sweep.
All-time series: Loyola leads 14-0
MIVA Tournament championships: Loyola (2013, 2014, 2015); McKendree (none)
NCAA Tournament championships: Loyola (2014, 2015); McKendree (none)
How they reached the semifinals: Loyola defeated Lindenwood in four games in the quarterfinals, while McKendree beat Purdue Fort Wayne in five games in the quarterfinals.
Next up on the bracket: The winner of this match will advance to the finals and play the winner of the Lewis versus Ball State semifinals match.
Stats to know: In their 14 previous meetings, McKendree has won a combined four games against Loyola. The Ramblers have won seven of their last nine MIVA Tournament semifinal matches dating back to 2010. This is the third MIVA Tournament semifinals appearance for McKendree in its program history, but the Bearcats have never reached the finals.