(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 13) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to the two-time defending national champions of Loyola University Chicago on Saturday night in Chicago, IL. The Bearcats fell by scores of 25-18, 25-19, and 25-19.

The loss moves McKendree to 1-4 overall on the season and 1-3 in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.

The Bearcats were led by junior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) who notched a team high 10 kills along with three digs and four blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) finished second on the team with seven kills, adding four kills and four blocks. Sophomore setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) handed out 25 assists while tallying 2 kills, 2 digs, and 2 blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Brenden Schmidt had a team high six blocks, while junior libero Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) tabbed a team high seven digs.

Wilcox collected two of the Bearcats first three kills of the match as McKendree found themselves within striking distance trailing 10-8 early in the first set. Loyola took control taking six of the next seven points to keep the Bearcats at an arm's length through most of the set. McKendree used a four point run late in the set, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit and fell by seven in set one.

The Bearcats hung tough in the second set taking an early 3-2 lead. The Ramblers went on a three point spree to take the lead 5-3 before the team exchanged a handful of points back and forth. McKendree got the better of the exchange taking two of the final three points of exchange with kills from Wilcox and junior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) to tie the match at nine. Loyola responded with a three point run to take a 12-9 lead and force a timeout from the Bearcats. McKendree cut the lead to just a single point at 16-15 following back to back points from Schmidt as he put down a kill and an ace on consecutive points. McKendree couldn't get over the hump as Loyola rattled off a six to two run to take a five point lead and went on to win the set by six.

The Bearcats took control of the third set capitalizing on four straight errors from the Ramblers to gain a 6-2 advantage. Loyola rallied back using a three and four point run in the middle stages of the set and reclaimed the lead at 13-12, before pushing the lead to five at 18-13. The Bearcats showed heart with kills from Walker and Fiduccia to pull within a pair, but two more Rambler runs left McKendree on the short end falling in three sets.  

The Bearcats return to action on Feb. 17 when they travel to St. Charles, MO to face Lindenwood University.