Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 20)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team battled host and No. 15-ranked Ball State University to the finish in each set on Friday, but the Bearcats were swept in the end by the Cardinals in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play. Ball State won the match by scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-23.
 
McKendree moves to 5-11 overall and 0-8 in the MIVA. The Bearcats will wrap up a quick two-match weekend road trip Saturday evening in Fort Wayne, Ind., against IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne) in another MIVA contest. First serve is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
Freshman Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) was the only McKendree player to reach double figures in kills with 13. Freshman Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) added nine attacks and a team-best seven digs, while sophomore Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) connected for seven kills and had a .500 hitting percentage in the contest. Freshman Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) led all players with 35 assists for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree controlled the tempo for most of the first set, taking an early lead and then fending off a Ball State run with four consecutive points to grab an 18-14 advantage. The Cardinals began to chip away at the deficit and pulled ahead at 21-20 before consecutive attacks by Wilcox pushed the Bearcats out in front at 22-21. However, Ball State responded by scoring the final four points of the match to build an early lead.
 
The second set played out in similar fashion as the Bearcats scored four of the first five points and maintained its advantage until the Cardinals ripped off a 7-1 run to take a 21-18 lead. McKendree pulled within a pair of points down the stretch before Ball State finished off the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Set three featured 14 ties and eight lead changes. Ball State took an early lead before McKendree scored five of six points to grab a 12-9 lead. After calling a time out, the Cardinals battled back and pulled even at 15-15. The teams then went toe-to-toe for the remainder of the set, with Ball State moving in front late in the contest to hold off the fast-closing Bearcats.
 
Marcin Niemczewski put down a match-high 17 kills, while Matt Sutherland added 16 kills for Ball State (8-5, 3-3 MIVA). Hiago Garchet collected 31 assists in the win for the Cardinals, who are now 2-0 all-time against the Bearcats.