Concordia-Irvine soars, puts end to No. 12/10 Loyola’s undefeated streak

For a player who started their college career as a libero, there was no offensive shortage from Johnny Anselmo in a marquee non-conference win.

Anselmo finished with a season-high 14 kills on a .545 attack percentage as Concordia-Irvine upset No. 12/10 Loyola 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 25-21 on Thursday in Irvine, California.

The outside attacker was one of four Eagles with more than five kills en route to the team’s first win against a nationally ranked team this season.

Opposite Uriel Batista had a team-high 15 kills, while outside attacker Scott Montez added 11 kills. In addition, middle attacker Gil Herold contributed nine kills and zero errors on a .750 attack percentage.

Concordia-Irvine out-hit Loyola .258 to .211, including a match-best .522 attack percentage in its nine-point second-game victory.

Loyola opposite Parker Van Buren led all players with 19 kills but was the only Rambler to have double-digit kills.

All-MIVA outside attacker Cole Schlothauer started the match on the bench but was inserted into the lineup with Loyola (7-1, 0-0 MIVA) trailing two games. Schlothauer playing in the final two games contributed nine kills.

The Eagles, though, limited the Ramblers to a match-low .091 attack percentage in the final game to secure their first home win of the season against a NCAA Division I-II opponent.

Concordia-Irvine (4-3, 0-0 MIVA) defensively had four players with double-digit digs. Libero Jacob Reilly had a match-high 19 digs, and the former libero Anselmo contributed 11 digs.

This loss ends Loyola’s seven-match winning streak to open the season. The Ramblers also remain winless all-time against the Eagles as it lost the only other previous meeting in 2018.