(LEBANON, Ill., March 16)—The McKendree University volleyball team rolled to a 3-0 sweep over non-conference foe Less-McRae College Wednesday evening in Banner Elk, NC. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-21, 25-19, and 25-15.

The win improves McKendree to 7-8 overall on the season. The Bearcats return to the court Thursday at 7 p.m. EST versus King University.

McKendree was paced by junior outside hitter Andrew Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) who tied for a match high 10 kills adding two kills and two blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) and sophomore outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) each tallied nine kills. Schmidt posted a match high .538 attack percentage along with two blocks. Rueter paired three digs with one block.
Sophomore setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) tabbed match highs in assists and digs with 24 and eight respectively. Junior middle blocker Michael Polizzi (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet Jesuit) contributed a match high three blocks, and junior libero Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) tied Fiduccia with eight digs to help hold the Bobcats to just a .081 team attack percentage.

McKendree capitalized on some sloppy play from the Bobcats as the Bearcats scored 10 of their first 13 points on Lees-McRae errors to open a 13-7 lead. McKendree extended that lead to 19-11 after kills from Schmidt, Schnittker, and sophomore outside hitter Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South). The Bobcats attempted to rally back as they cut the McKendree lead to just two points late in the set, but Rueter closed thing out for the Bearcats as he landed three kills in the final four points for McKendree to win set one.

The Bearcats started strong in set two with a 7-3 lead that included a trio of kills from Schnittker. McKendree pushed that lead to 14-7 which included back to back aces from Rueter before moving in front 18-10 with a three kill spree from Wilcox, Schnittker and Polizzi en-route to a six point win in set number two.

Lees-McRae came out firing in the third set as they attempted to fend off a potential sweep taking a 6-2 edge, but a five point run from the Bearcats closed the gap quickly putting McKendree in front 7-6. The Bobcats responded with four straight to move ahead 11-8. A 7-1 run for the Bearcats the lead back in favor of McKendree for good as the Bearcats regained a 15-12 advantage and closed the match with a 10-3 run to earn their second sweep of the season.