(LEBANON, Ill., February 17)—The McKendree University volleyball team picked up a five-set victory Wednesday night on the road at Lindenwood University in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match. The Bearcats took the match by scores of 26-24, 25-15, 14-25, 23-25, and 15-13.

The win moves McKendree to 2-4 on the season and 2-3 in MIVA play.

Sophomore outside hitter Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) paced the Bearcats with 14 kills and two digs. Junior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) put 10 kills joined by junior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) and sophomore middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) who each notched 10 kills apiece. Walker added four digs and three blocks, while Patterson and Schmidt each tabbed three digs and five blocks.
Sophomore setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) had a match high 47 assists adding six digs and five blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) put down nine kills and nine digs and freshman libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) put up 11 digs for the Bearcats.

McKendree capitalized on sloppy play from the Lindenwood early taking a 5-3 lead on five Lions errors. Lindenwood bounced back to tie the match at seven before using a three point run to take their first lead of the match at 9-7. The Bearcats swung back to tie the set at 10-10 before the Lions pushed ahead 13-11. McKendree would not be outdone as the offensive attack began to click with a four point run including a pair of kills from Patterson. After dropping a point the Bearcats extended the lead to four with three straight points, which included a kill from Walker and a service ace from Wilcox. Lindenwood would rally to tie the match at 22-22 after a four point run, but McKendree responded with a pair of points to push the Lions to set point. The Lions showed heart knotting the match at 24-24 to send the set into extra points, but the Bearcats took the final two points to take set one.

McKendree stayed hot in set two rolling to a ten point win that included four kills from Walker and Rueter and three from Wilcox.

After dropping the third set things got dicey in the fourth as Lindenwood attempted a valiant comeback. The Bearcats started strong taking an 8-5 lead riding three kills from Wilcox. The Lions stormed back after swapping points by taking six of the next seven and a 12-10 advantage. McKendree would work back to tie the match at 15-15 after a kill from Schmidt, who once again tied things at 18-18 with another put down. Lindenwood rallied with a 5-1 run to put the Bearcats on the ropes, and despite back to back kills from Walker and Rueter to pull within one point late in the set, the Bearcats couldn't overcome the deficit and were forced to a fifth set.

McKendree took an early 6-4 lead in the final set with help from Wilcox and Schmidt who combined for three kills in the first six points. The Bearcats found themselves up 10-8 before the Lions went on a three kill spree to spark a four point run forcing a timeout from McKendree. The stoppage proved to be the turning point as the Bearcats came out firing with back to back kills from Schmidt and Wilcox to spark a 5-2 run closing out the match for McKendree.

The Bearcats return to action Friday when they take on Quincy University at 7 p.m. in Quincy, IL.