GAME DAY LINKS -- 
McKENDREE vs. BELMONT ABBEY -- Saturday, March 7, 2015 -- 7 p.m. ET, Belmont, N.C.
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McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
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McKENDREE vs. LIMESTONE -- Sunday, March 8, 2015 -- 4 p.m. ET, Gaffney, S.C.
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McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
LIMESTONE SEASON STATISTICS

McKENDREE vs. LEES-McRAE -- Monday, March 9, 2015 -- 7 p.m. ET, Banner Elk, N.C.
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McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
LEES-McRAE SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., March 7)--A week following its historic program victory over IPFW, the McKendree University men's volleyball team returns to action with a three-match road trip through the Carolinas.

All three contests for the Bearcats will be non-conference affairs, beginning with a Saturday evening battle at Belmont Abbey College. McKendree will then take on Limestone College Sunday afternoon before wrapping up their southern swing Monday night at Lees-McRae College. 

McKendree has not played since Feb. 28, when the Bearcats rolled past then-No. 12 IPFW in four sets. The win was historic on a pair of fronts as the Bearcats earned their first-ever victory in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play. It was also McKendree's first triumph over a nationally-ranked opponent in the two-year history of the program. Freshman opposite Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) put down a match-high 21 kills on his way to earning MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as National Freshman of the Week accolades from Off the Block. Freshman setter Pasquale Fidducia handed out 49 assists and led the back row with seven digs to earn honorable mention as National Freshman of the Week from Off the Block. 

The Bearcats enter the weekend with an overall record of 6-12 while they are 1-9 in the MIVA. McKendree will be in search of its first road victory of the 2015 campaign, as they are 0-4 in official road contests. Wilcox leads the offense for the Bearcats with 211 kills, putting down just over three attacks per set. Wilcox has also served up a team-best 18 aces to date. Sophomore middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) is next with 135 kills while leading the team with a .468 hitting percentage. Fiduccia has boosted his season assist total to 234, which is second behind fellow freshman Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg)'s 443 sets. 

Freshman outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) has collected 101 digs to pace McKendree, while freshman middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) leads the Bearcats up front with 70 blocks, including 10 solos. 

Following the southern trip, McKendree will return home to host the University of Charleston on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

ABOUT BELMONT ABBEY
The Crusaders are 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Conference Carolinas. Belmont Abbey had a four-match win streak snapped on Tuesday with a five-set loss at home to Barton. Junior outside hitter Nolan Albrecht has put down a team-high 183 kills for the Crusaders, averaging 3.89 kills per set and hitting .308 in the process. Albrecht also has a team-leading 108 digs. Junior setter Derek Sullivan has handed out 427 assists while he is second on the squad with 37 blocks. Junior outside hitter Justin Snyder has shown the way at the net with 43 blocks to date. 

McKendree and Belmont Abbey played last season at the McKendree Crossover Tournament held in mid-March. The Bearcats posted a three-set sweep of the Crusaders, winning by scores of 27-25, 25-22 and 25-22 back on March 15, 2014. 

ABOUT LIMESTONE
The Saints are 8-11 overall and hold a 6-6 mark in Conference Carolinas play. Limestone dropped all of its matches on a recent four-match road trip, including a three-set loss on Tuesday at Erskine. Sophomore outside hitter Bruno Kretzschmar has posted a team-best 156 attacks for the Saints. Sophomore outside hitter Juan Ruiz Goyco is right behind with 148 kills while he leads all Limestone players with 15 service aces. Sophomore middle blocker Joel Muhlbach has anchored the front row with 61 blocks, including 20 solos. Sophomore setter Nick Wildes has dished out 552 assists as freshman libero Daric Sanders has handled 153 digs in the back row. 

Sunday's match will mark the first meeting on the volleyball court between McKendree and Limestone. 

ABOUT LEES-McRAE
The Bobcats bring a 2-10 overall record and a 1-8 league mark into Monday's match versus the Bearcats. Lees-McRae ended a nine-match losing streak on Wednesday with a five-set win at North Greenville. Just eight players have taken the court this season for the Bobcats, with junior outside hitter Brady Markle posting a team-high 202 kills. He also leads the squad with 14 service aces. Junior setter Drew Blecher tops the team with 274 assists, while sophomore libero Keenan Freitas has handled 73 digs in the back row. Up front, the Bobcats are paced by sophomore outside hitter Mark Shayka with 23 blocks. 

McKendree and Lees-McRae last met back on Feb. 1, 2014 at the Lindenwood Volleyball Classic in St. Charles, Mo. The Bobcats posted a three-set sweep of the Bearcats, winning by scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-13.