GAME DAY LINKS -- 
McKENDREE at BALL STATE -- Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 -- 7:30 p.m. ET -- Muncie, Ind.
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McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
BALL STATE SEASON STATISTICS

McKENDREE at IPFW -- Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 -- 7 p.m. ET -- Fort Wayne, Ind.
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McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
IPFW SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 19)--For the first time in nearly a month, the McKendree University men's volleyball team will play matches away from the friendly confines of the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats will head east for a pair of Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) contests, first visiting Ball State University Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET before taking on IPFW (Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne) Saturday at 7 p.m.

The matches on Friday and Saturday marke the Bearcats' first road contests since Jan. 24, when the team participated in the Park Invitational near Kansas City. McKendree is 5-10 on the year and in search of its first MIVA victory at 0-7 in the league. The Bearcats won three matches during its eight-match home stand, which wrapped up Sunday with a three-set sweep of King University. Freshman Robert Watkins (LaGrange, IL/Lyons Township) put down a season-high 10 kills to show the way for McKendree, while freshman Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) added eight attacks and a team-leading seven digs. Fellow freshman Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) handed out 37 assists against the Tornado. 

Freshman Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) has put down a team-high 167 kills through the Bearcats' first 15 matches. That number places Wilcox atop the MIVA attacks list. Freshman Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg) currently sits seventh in the MIVA in assists per match at 9.63. 

ABOUT BALL STATE
Ball State brings a 7-5 overall record and a 2-3 MIVA mark into Friday night's match against McKendree. After opening the season by winning seven of their first eight matches, the Cardinals have dropped each of their last four, three of which have come in league play. Junior Marcin Niemczewski leads Ball State with 125 kills, while junior Hiago Garchet has handed out 383 assists. Freshman Matt Walsh has put down a team-best 72 blocks (9 solos), while Niemczewski has handled 57 digs in the back row.

McKendree made its program debut against Ball State in the only previous meeting between the two schools back on Jan. 24, 2014, with the host Cardinals winning in three sets.

ABOUT IPFW
The Mastodons are currently 9-3 this season and 3-1 in the MIVA. IPFW will play host to Ohio State University Friday evening before McKendree comes to town for its Saturday match-up. Junior Andrew Sellan has put down a team-best 151 kills so far, while freshman Alex Harthaller is close behind with 123 attacks. Senior Omar Rivera has handed out 481 assists, averaging nearly 11 per set for IPFW. Junior Luis Bertran has collected 117 digs, and senior Ramon Burgos shows the way up front with 47 total blocks (4 solo). 

Saturday's contest will mark the first-ever meeting on the volleyball court between McKendree and IPFW. The Mastodons will visit the Statham Center a week from Saturday, Feb. 28, for the second and final meeting between the MIVA opponents this season.