Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 13)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team could not capitalize on a fast start against Grand Canyon University on Friday as the Bearcats dropped a four-set decision to the visiting Antelopes. Grand Canyon took the best-of-five contest by scores of 19-25, 25-23, 25-17 and 25-20.
 
With the loss, McKendree slips to 4-9 on the year and 0-6 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. The Bearcats and Antelopes will meet again Saturday evening at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in another league contest. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Freshman Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) shared match-high honors with 16 kills, while freshman Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) added a double-double of 11 attacks and 12 digs in the contest for McKendree. Rueter also hit .529 for the Bearcats. Sophomore Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) contributed eight kills and matched Rueter with 12 digs on the night. Freshman Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg) handed out 45 assists against Grand Canyon.
 
McKendree controlled the tempo throughout the first set thanks in part to a 9-4 start. Grand Canyon was able to claw back within one point on six different occasions before the Bearcats used a 4-1 run, fueled by a pair of kills from Wilcox, to stretch the margin back to 21-17. McKendree was able to pull away to close out the opening-set win. As a team, the Bearcats hit .522 in the first set.
 
The second set was tied seven times, but McKendree was never able to forge a lead in the contest. Grand Canyon took its largest lead of the set at 19-16 before the Bearcats battled back to tie the score at 20-20. The teams then traded points the Antelopes edged in front down the stretch to even the match at a set apiece. Grand Canyon led from start to finish in taking the third set, building as much as a nine-point lead to grab a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
There were 12 ties and five lead changes in the fourth set. McKendree was able to overcome an early three-point deficit thanks in part to a 5-2 run to pull even at 14-14. The Bearcats took their final lead of the night at 18-17 on a kill by Rueter before Grand Canyon surged back in front. McKendree knotted the score once again at 19-19 when the Antelopes reeled off three straight points to pull ahead to stay. Grand Canyon closed the match on a 6-1 run to complete the four-set victory.
 
Ryan Mather matched Wilcox with 16 kills to lead the way for Grand Canyon (6-4, 1-2 MIVA). Gerrard Lipscombe added 11 attacks, while Michael Milstein handed out 45 assists on the night.