Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 4)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team played its first-ever Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) match on Tuesday evening at home, dropping a four-set decision to visiting Lindenwood University at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Lions won by scores of 25-16, 25-21, 24-26 and 25-19.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) put down a match-high 14 kills and posted a .524 hitting percentage to lead the way for McKendree, which slipped to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in the MIVA. The Bearcats will play host to the defending national champions, Loyola University of Chicago, in another MIVA contest Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
 
Against Lindenwood, freshman outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) helped out with eight kills and a team-leading six digs, while sophomore right-side hitter Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) and freshman opposite Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) each contributed six attacks for McKendree. Freshman setter Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg) handed out 34 assists in the effort for the Bearcats.
 
Lindenwood (3-3, 1-2 MIVA) never trailed in taking the first set. McKendree came out strong to start the second set, opening with a 5-1 run. The Lions chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 13-12. Following a kill by freshman middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) to give the Bearcats a two-point cushion at 14-12, Lindenwood reeled off the next six points to take the lead for good at 18-14. The Lions then held off a late comeback bid to take a two-set lead into the 10-minute intermission.
 
Set three featured 11 ties and six lead changes as McKendree battled to avoid the home sweep. The Bearcats trailed 23-22 when a pair of Lindenwood attack errors put the Bearcats on serve at set point. The Lions tied the contest at 24-24 before a kill from Walker and another attack error from Lindenwood finished off the two-point victory for the Bearcats. However, the momentum was short-lived as the Lions slowly pulled away in the fourth set to finish off the conference win.
 
Colin Hackworth put down a team-leading 11 kills to lead the way for Lindenwood. Jake Duckworth contributed seven kills and three service aces, while Roman Seghezzi dished out 17 assists in the effort for the Lions. The teams will meet again April 1 in St. Charles, Mo.