Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 15)—The McKendree University men's volleyball squad rolled to a three-set sweep of King University on Sunday afternoon at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats took the best-of-five match by scores of 25-21, 25-15 and 25-16.
 
Freshman Robert Watkins (LaGrange, IL/Lyons Township) led a balanced attack with 10 kills and added four blocks as the Bearcats wrapped up a season-long eight-match home stand with Sunday's victory. McKendree improves to 5-10 on the year and will be on the road Friday night for a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match at Ball State University. First serve is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
 
Freshmen Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) and Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) each connected for eight kills in the win, while Schmidt matched Watkins with four blocks. Schmidt also posted a .778 hitting percentage against the Tornado. Freshman Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) dished out a match-high 37 assists and posted both of the Bearcats' solo blocks in the effort. Sophomore Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) led all players with eight digs for McKendree. Fiduccia also served up three aces.
 
In the first set, McKendree held an early lead before King was able to battle back and pull even at 13-13. The teams traded points before the Bearcats scored five of seven points to surge in front at 20-17. The Tornado rallied once again to pull within 22-21 when consecutive kills from sophomore Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) and Rueter, followed by a King attack error, gave McKendree the set victory and an early lead in the match.
 
McKendree reeled off the first five points of the second set before King chipped away at its deficit and tied the game at 9-9. The Bearcats bounced back in front and later used a 5-0 to boost its lead to 18-11. McKendree continued to add to its lead in building a two-set advantage on the Tornado. King controlled the tempo early in the third set when the Bearcats scored five of six points midway through the set to grab the lead for good at 13-10. McKendree slowly pulled away from there to record its second three-set sweep of the season.
 
Jeff Sprayberry put down a team-leading eight kills for King (6-4). Mason Casner and Eddie Moushikhian each notched six attacks, while Matthew DeLong contributed a team-best 12 assists for the Tornado.