(LEBANON, Ill., March 10) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team travels to Phoenix, AZ this weekend for a pair of Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association matches with Grand Canyon University. The Bearcats will take on the Antelopes at 6 p.m. MT Friday, followed by a Saturday match at 6 p.m. MT.
McKendree is 5-7 overall this season with a 3-5 record in MIVA play. The Bearcats are currently tied with Grand Canyon for fifth place in the MIVA.
McKendree is led by sophomore outside hitter
Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) who has a team high 131 kills averaging 2.67 per set. Wilcox has also added 49 digs and 20 blocks for the Bearcats. Junior opposite
Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) ranks second on the team with 110 kills with a team high 2.89 kills per set. Walker has also tallied 56 digs and 22 blocks in his 10 matches this season. Junior middle blocker
Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) rounds out the top three attackers for McKendree posting a team high .383 attack percentage, connecting on 98 of his 193 attacks. Patterson also ranks second on the team in blocks with 45.
Sophomore setters
Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg) and
Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) have each seen time on the court this season. Zalewski has notched 210 assists averaging 9.55 per set which currently ranks fifth in the MIVA. Fiduccia has handed out 275 assists at a rate of 7.64 per set adding 44 digs and 19 blocks. Sophomore outside hitter
Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) has put down 94 kills this season to go with 71 digs and 19 blocks. Reigning MIVA defensive player of the week
Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) leads McKendree in blocks with 57. Schmidt's 1.42 blocks per set leads the MIVA and ranks third in the nation. Freshman libero
Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) ranks fourth in the conference averaging 2.41 digs per set totaling 106 from the back row for the Bearcats.
ABOUT GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITYGrand Canyon enters the weekend with an overall record of 10-8 including an identical 3-5 record in MIVA play. The Antelopes split a weekend series with Ball State a week ago, salvaging the weekend with a 3-2 win over the Cardinals Saturday to halt a five-match skid. Grand Canyon is led offensively by senior outside hitter Gerrard Lipscombe who has a team high 182 kills, averaging 3.31 kills per set while hitting at a .290 clip. Lipscombe is also second on the team in digs with 80 to pair with 22 blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Shalev Saada is second on the team in kills with 134 to go with 47 digs and 28 blocks. Saada also leads the MIVA in aces per set averaging .55. Sophomore middle blocker Ashton King rounds out the top three attackers for the Antelopes. King is the only other Antelope to reach the century mark in kills with 113. King also leads Grand Canyon in blocks with 70 averaging 1.15 per set, which is tied for second in the MIVA.
Junior setter Michael Milstein paces the Antelopes with 515 assists for a rate of 9.36 per set. Milstein has also contributed 42 digs and 22 blocks for Grand Canyon. Senior middle blocker Christian Ward leads the team in attack percentage at .433 with 77 kills on 141 attempts. Sophomore libero Sky Engleman has a team high 128 digs, averaging 2.25 per set, both of which rank fifth in the MIVA this season. The Antelopes are 3-0 all-time against McKendree including a pair of wins last season. Grand Canyon holds a 5-3 record against common opponents of the Bearcats this season, while McKendree is 2-3 in those matches.
