Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., March 29)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team nearly rallied from a two-set deficit Saturday at home before falling in five sets to Quincy University. The visiting Hawks won by scores of 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 15-25 and 15-12.
 
The Bearcats dropped the first two sets before bouncing back to take sets three and four and tie the match. However, Quincy edged out in front in the later stages of the fifth and deciding set to close out a season sweep of McKendree.
 
With the loss, McKendree slips to 8-22 on the year and will close out their inaugural season on Friday by hosting Park University at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
 
Against Quincy, freshman outside hitter Mike Polizzi put down a team-leading 16 kills for McKendree. Freshman outside hitter Dustin Borenstein (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park) added 13 attacks along with six digs, while freshman middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) had a match-high eight blocks for the Bearcats. Freshman setter Jack MacLean led all players with 45 assists, and freshman libero Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) handled nine digs in the contest for McKendree.
 
After Quincy (13-14) took the first two sets, McKendree began its comeback with a victory in set three. The Bearcats broke open a close contest with a 6-1 run to build a 15-9 advantage. McKendree eventually stretched the margin to eight points in holding on to force a fourth set.
 
McKendree scored four of the first five points in the fourth set to take an early lead. The Bearcats later ripped off five consecutive points – fueled by a pair of kills from Polizzi – to push its advantage to 13-5. From there, McKendree cruised to the set four victory as they led by as many as 13 points.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, Quincy jumped out to a 4-0 lead before McKendree answered with four straight points to even the match. The contest remained close until the Hawks broke open a 9-9 with by scoring four points in a row to grab the lead for good at 13-9. The Bearcats battled back one more time and fought off two match points before Quincy's Ian Lawson ended the marathon match with a kill.
 
Lawson registered a match-high 20 kills to pace Quincy. Jack Gamache added 13 kills, while Brian Rogan handed out 38 assists.
 
Quincy also defeated McKendree in four sets back on Feb. 18 in Quincy, Ill.