Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., March 17)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team was swept at home Monday by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The visiting Highlanders won by scores of 25-23, 25-21 and 25-17.
 
Monday's match closed out a four-game home stand for McKendree, which slips to 8-19 overall. The Bearcats will be on the road this weekend for a pair of matches at Park University. McKendree and Park will tangle Friday at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend with a noon first serve on Saturday in Parkville, Mo.
 
Freshman outside hitter Mike Polizzi put down a match-high 13 kills to lead the offensive surge for McKendree. Polizzi also led all players with nine digs in the contest. Freshman right-side hitters Eric Abrolat (Ballwin, MO/Marquette) and Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) each connected for eight kills, with Abrolat posting a .583 hitting percentage against the Highlanders. Freshman setter Jack MacLean dished out 36 assists for the Bearcats.
 
The teams battled down to the wire in the first two sets, with NJIT pulling ahead down the stretch to build an early lead on McKendree. The Bearcats battled out to a two-point lead five different times in the opening set, the last coming at 19-17 after a kill by Polizzi. The Highlanders fought back by scoring three of the next four points to tie the set at 20-20. The teams traded points until NJIT seized control late by scoring three of the final four points to take the set.
 
In the second set, NJIT raced out to a 13-6 lead before McKendree chipped away at the deficit and rallied within 23-20 following a kill by Abrolat. The Highlanders regained their composure and sealed the second set win to grab a two-set advantage. The third set was tied at 11-11 when NJIT pulled ahead for good thanks to a 6-1 run to build a 17-12 lead and slowly pulled away to close out the sweep.
 
Chris Kaepernick led NJIT (8-8) with 10 kills while adding six digs. Zak Robben led the Highlanders with 18 assists while Luke Robbe added 16 assists in the win.