Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 7)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team faced its stiffest challenge to date Saturday afternoon when it hosted Loyola University, the top-ranked team in NCAA men's volleyball. The visiting Ramblers ran their win streak to 35 consecutive matches by sweeping past the Bearcats at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. Loyola won by scores of 25-15, 25-11 and 25-17.
 
The loss sends McKendree to 3-7 overall and 0-4 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. The Bearcats will look to bounce back Sunday afternoon by hosting Quincy University in another MIVA contest. First serve is set for 4 p.m.
 
Freshman Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) led the way for McKendree with seven kills and a .583 hitting percentage. Sophomore Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) and freshman Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) each connected for five attacks, while freshman Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg) handed out 18 assists in the contest.
 
In the first set, Loyola raced to a 10-4 lead before McKendree used its first time out. The Bearcats battled back to within 12-8 following a kill by Walker before the Ramblers scored five of the next six points to extend their lead out to 17-9. Loyola slowly pulled away by hitting .591 in the opening set, then posted a .615 attack percentage to grab a two-set lead over McKendree.
 
McKendree took its first lead of the contest in the early stages of the third set. The Bearcats built a 6-4 advantage before Loyola seized control with a 14-2 spurt to take an 18-8 lead. The Ramblers were able to hold off a late comeback bid from the Bearcats to finish off the sweep.
 
Loyola (8-0, 1-0 MIVA) hit .492 as a team and committed just five errors in 59 total attacks. Ben Plaisted led a balanced attack for the Ramblers with eight kills, while Peter Hutz dished out a match-high 31 assists.