On the Beat With Loyola Women's Basketball

Earlier this week, I took part in the Atlantic 10 Media Day session featuring the Loyola Ramblers Head Coach Allison Guth, along with senior players Julia Hoefling and Sam Galanopoulos. That session can be found at On the Beat With Loyola WBB Media Day.

The Atlantic 10 Conference held Media Day for women's basketball, featuring individual sessions with the coach and two players from each school. Conference newcomer Loyola University was represented by new Head Coach Allison Guth and senior players Sam Galanopoulos and Julia Hoefling.

Chicago area native Coach Guth returns to Loyola. Where she served as an assistant 2005-2007. She was also an assistant at Missouri, DePaul, Yale and Northwestern, before being named Head Coach at Yale in 2015. Prior to embarking on a coaching career, Guth was a three-year letterwinner at the University of Illinois.

Guth takes over a Loyola team that was 18-12 last season. She inherits a team with four seniors. She also gets incoming seniors Emma and Sophia Nolan, who transferred from St. John's.

Since her arrival, Guth has showed a lot of energy and positivity. She has discussed the importance of family, friends and support, thanking both those around her and all of her players. This was all very evident in her introductory press session in the offseason and she reinforced it in this media session.

Guth discussed what to expect from her and the team. She talked about the challenges for Loyola in their new conference. The Ramblers previously played in the Missouri Valley Conference. She discussed adding the Nolan sisters and relying on her seniors for leadership as the team adjusts to the new coach and new conference.

Representing those seniors, Hoefling and Galanopoulos stated they are excited about the challenges and ready to lead. Both discussed the challenges and rewards of new coaching and new conference.

During her three years at Loyola, guard Galanopoulos played 86 games, averaging 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds and assists in 25.6 minutes. Last season, she had career highs, averaging 7.0 points, 3.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 29.9 minutes.

Forward Hoefling also had career highs last season. She started 29 games, and averaged 4.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 23.8 minutes.

Guards Anna Brown and Jala Johnson are the other two returning seniors. The addition of the Nolan sisters will create competition for playing time, hopefully resulting in everyone rising to the challenge.

Loyola opens their exhibition season hosting Purdue Northwest Sunday, October 30. They open their regular season at Western Michigan Monday, November 7. They also play at Milwaukee, before their home opener Wednesday, November 16 against Virginia.

Much like at Guth's introductory press conference, I expect the stands at Gentile Arena to be filled with family and friends ushering the new era. I will also be there, in media row.

Follow my coverage all season right here, GlobalTravelerUSA.com and EveryDayFan.com. Go to LoyolaRamblers.com for more info on the team.

On the Beat With Sam Galanopoulos and the Loyola Ramblers

Last Sunday, I was "On the Beat" for the first time with the Loyola Ramblers women's basketball team. The Ramblers beat the Miami (OH) RedHawks and I met Loyola guard Sam Galanopoulos, niece of my longtime friend Louie Atsaves.

While the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team has gotten a lot of nation exposure of late, and deservedly so, the women's team has quietly been on the rise. In her sixth season at Loyola, Head Coach Kate Achter has lead the resurgence.

Last season, Achter guided the Ramblers to a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational, the program's first postseason appearance. Although early in the season, the Ramblers are off to a hot start at 4-2. The latest win was a 69-52 drubbing of Miami (OH).

The game was never really in doubt. Miami only led once, a two point edge 1:36 into the game. After that, it was all Loyola. The Ramblers led 20-10 after one quarter and cruised to the 17 point victory.

Of special interest to me was the play of junior Sam, who led the charge in the first quarter with six points. Sam finished with 11 points, second on the team only to senior forward Allison Day, who had 20. Sam also had two rebounds, four assists and one steal. I had the chance to briefly chat with Sam after the game.

Sam's father Mike was one of my first bosses when I started at Lerner Newspapers in 1987. Mike's future brother-in-law Louie was a part-timer while still in college. One of Sam's aunts, Barb, sister of Louie, was a star player at DePaul in the 1980s. While I have known the Atsaves family for many years and have probably seen Sam at some family events, this was the first time I talked to her.

I really enjoyed my day at Loyola. It's a quick drive and it is extra fun to have a special rooting interest in Sam. I will be returning to Loyola games as often as my schedule allows.

A special thanks to Loyola Director - Athletic Communications J. Ryan Haley for the hospitality. Also thanks to Sam for her time after the game. Check back here for recurring coverage of Loyola Ramblers WBB.

Sam Glananopoulos and me in Chicago, IL-November 2021.