Box Score (CANTON, Mo., Feb. 28)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team dropped the first set Friday evening at Culver-Stockton College, but rebounded to take the final three sets and the match in Canton, Mo. The Bearcats won by scores of 23-25, 25-19, 25-14 and 25-20.
McKendree improves to 4-15 during its first season of competition. The Bearcats and Wildcats will wrap up their two-match weekend series Saturday at 1 p.m.
Freshman outside hitter
Dustin Borenstein (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park) put down a match-high 14 kills to pace McKendree, while freshman outside hitter Andy Schnittker helped out with 11 attacks. Freshman setter Jack MacLean handed out a match-leading 40 assists, and freshman libero
Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) collected 19 digs from the back row. Freshman right-side hitter
Eric Abrolat (Ballwin, MO/Marquette) was in on four blocks against Culver-Stockton, including a pair of solos.
The first set featured 12 ties and three lead changes. Culver-Stockton edged out to a three-point lead at 17-14 before McKendree roared back by scoring four of the next five points to knot the contest at 18-18. The teams traded the next 10 points before the Wildcats put down back-to-back kills to escape with the two-point win in the contest.
McKendree used a 6-0 run to grab a 12-8 lead in the second set. Culver-Stockton battled back to pull within 17-16 before the Bearcats answered with four consecutive points to stretch the margin back to 21-16. Borenstein had a pair of kills during the spurt. Schnittker wrapped up the set with a kill off a pass from Borenstein to even the match. The Bearcats then dominated the third set, racing to a 12-4 lead and later used a 5-0 run to push its advantage to double digits.
In the fourth set, McKendree appeared to be on its way to an easy win before fought back to rally within 18-16. A kill from freshman middle blocker
Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) on the next point helped the Bearcats regain their momentum, and the combination of a kill from Borenstein and a service ace from Schnittker closed out the victory.
John Echel led Culver-Stockton (2-14) with 13 kills and three blocks, while Nick Regester was right behind with 12 kills.
