Box Score (CHICAGO, Ill., April 17)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team was swept in a best-of-five match Friday evening at Loyola University in Chicago. The host Ramblers, ranked No. 5 in the latest AVCA Division I-II poll, rolled to victory by scores of 25-11, 25-22 and 25-14.
 
McKendree slips to 11-18 overall and is now 1-14 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). The Bearcats will wrap up their 2015 season Saturday evening in Romeoville, Ill., at second-ranked Lewis University. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at Neil Carey Arena.
 
Freshman opposite Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) led McKendree with eight kills and three assisted blocks. Freshman middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) helped out with seven attacks and two blocks, while sophomore right-side hitter Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) added six kills. Freshman setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) handed out a team-best 24 assists in the outing.
 
Loyola (21-2, 13-2 MIVA) jumped out to a quick start in the match, scoring the first nine points of the first set on its way to a 17-4 lead. The Ramblers hit .600 as a team in the opening set and never trailed in the contest to build an early lead.
 
McKendree turned the tables on Loyola at the outset of the second set, scoring nine of the first 12 points. Wilcox had three kills and added a pair of assisted blocks during the spurt. The Ramblers responded by ripping off a 6-2 run to pull within 11-9. The Bearcats maintained their advantage until later in the set, when Loyola took the lead for good at 21-20 following a bad set by Fiduccia. That was part of another 6-2 burst that helped the Ramblers close out the second set.
 
In the third set, Loyola pulled away in a close contest by scoring five of six points to grab a 15-7 lead. The Ramblers continued to increase their advantage down the stretch to finish off their second sweep of the season against the Bearcats. Loyola also defeated McKendree back on Feb. 7 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
Thomas Jaeschke led all players with 15 kills for Loyola. Jeff Jendryk added 11 attacks and a .714 hitting percentage. Peter Hutz dished out a match-high 35 assists for the Ramblers.