Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (ST. CHARLES, Mo., Feb. 1)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team dropped its two matches on Saturday in the final day of play at the Lindenwood University Classic in St. Charles, Mo. The Bearcats were swept by Lees-McRae College before being edged in four sets by Pfeiffer University.
 
The losses drop McKendree to 1-8 overall in its first season of competition. The Bearcats will head north Friday and Saturday for matches at Lewis University and Loyola University-Chicago, respectively.
 
Freshman outside hitter Mike Polizzi had eight kills in each match to lead the way for McKendree. Freshman right-side hitter Eric Abrolat (Ballwin, MO/Marquette) added 13 attacks on the day, including seven against Pfeiffer. Freshman setter Jack MacLean totaled 54 assists in the two matches, with 35 coming in the Pfeiffer match. Freshman libero Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) handled 17 digs in the two matches for McKendree.
 
In the first match, Lees-McRae swept the best-of-five contest against McKendree, winning by scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-13. The Bearcats never led in the first set as the Bobcats used a pair of 5-1 runs to break open a close contest. McKendree scored three of the first four points in the second set before Lees-McRae reeled off four straight points to grab the lead for good at 9-6. The Bearcats pulled within a point at 13-12 when the Bobcats ripped off five points in a row to stretch the margin to 18-12.
 
Lees-McRae controlled the tempo for much of the third and final set, outscoring McKendree 10-1 during the middle portion of the game.
 
Against Pfeiffer, McKendree dropped the first two sets before rallying to take the third set. The Falcons regrouped to outlast the Bearcats and record the win by scores of 25-21, 25-13, 19-25 and 25-20.
 
Pfeiffer used big runs early in each of the first two sets to seize control against McKendree. The Falcons opened set one on a 7-1 run, followed by a 7-2 spurt to begin the second set. With the score tied at 12-12 in the third set, the Bearcats took control thanks to a 4-1 burst to take a 16-13 lead. McKendree was able to hold off the Falcons to force a fourth set.
 
The last set was a tightly-contested affair until Pfeiffer put the match again at the end. The Falcons scored five of the final six points of the contest to notch the victory.