Stockton, Calif. – The Pacific men's volleyball team resumed non-conference play Friday, Jan. 13 in the Alex G. Spanos Center as they fell to the Loyola Ramblers 3-0 (32-30, 25-16, 25-22). Leading the Tiger attack was senior Florian Gornik with nine kills. The Tiger defensive charge was commanded by junior Christian Ahlin and senior Sean Daley, who finished the match with three blocks each.

The Tigers and Ramblers battled back and forth throughout the first set, as the teams remained within two points the entire game. Both squads defended two set points before Loyola was able to take the game after back-to-back service aces from Joseph Smalzer. Leading the Pacific offense in the first set was senior Florian Gornik with seven kills on 10 attacks. The senior from Schwechat, Austria also tied sophomore libero Javier Caceres with a team-high four digs in the game.

The second set would not prove as close for the Tigers as they fell despite Daley's two blocks. Leading the second set attack was sophomore Adam Troy with three kills. 

Pacific did not let the second set discourage them and continued to fight throughout the third set. After trailing 21-16, the Tigers battled to back to bring the score within one led by Christian Ahlin's back-to-back solo blocks. However, the Ramblers would regain control of the set winning the third set and match. 

Helping the Pacific attackers was junior setter Patrick Tunnell finished the match with 24 assists, and Caceres who recorded seven digs. 

Leading Loyola was sophomore Joseph Smalzer with 13 kills on 23 attacks. On the other side of the pins he added four blocks for the Ramblers.

The Tigers will take to the court tomorrow, Jan. 14 in Janssen-Lagorio Gymnasium for some fun in their annual Alumni match before returning to regular season play the following weekend. Pacific will travel to UC Santa Barbara and UCLA for Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches on Jan. 20 and 21, respectively.