Box Score FINAL STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., March 5)—The McKendree University men's volleyball team came out ahead of a four-set decision Saturday night in Newark, NJ. The Bearcats topped the New Jersey Institute of Technology by scores of 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, and 30-28.

The win moves the Bearcats overall record to 5-6. McKendree returns to action tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST against Sacred Heart University.  

Junior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) had a stellar performance connecting on 18 of his 24 attempts from the field for a match high .750 attack percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) landed 15 kills with five digs and three blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) finished just three kills shy of a double-double after putting down seven kills and recording a match high 10 blocks.

Sophomore setter Ian Zalewski (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg) tabbed a team high 46 assists, adding five kills and two blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Dustin Borenstein (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park) totaled seven kills, nine digs, and two blocks. Junior libero Brice Miller (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) finished second in digs with eight from the back row to pair with two assists.

McKendree fell in an early 9-4 hole to start the match, but used a pair of kills from Borenstein, as well as kills from Wilcox and Patterson to tie things at 17-17. The Bearcats pulled within one at again at 20-19 after a kill from Patterson, but the Highlanders put down four straight kills to put the set away and take a 1-0 lead.

A similar plot unfolded early in the second set as New Jersey Institute of Technology jumped out in front 9-3. After trading points the lead held at 12-6 before McKendree went on a 5-0 run with kills from Wilcox and junior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) to pull within one. The Bearcats continued to roll taking as they tied things at 13 and again at 14 before breaking through for their first lead of the set at 17-16. McKendree extend that lead to 21-18 after a kill from Wilcox and a service ace from sophomore outside hitter Brian Lyman (Joliet, IL/Joliet West). The Highlanders rallied to tie the set at 24, but the Bearcats took four of the final six points, including a pair from Patterson to tie the match at 1-1.

Things began to turn in the third set as the McKendree took an early 7-3 lead after a pair of kills from Borenstein. New Jersey Institute of Technology countered with a four point run to take a brief lead at 11-10, but a kill and an ace from Schmidt on consecutive points returned the lead to the Bearcats. McKendree used two separate three point runs in the middle stages of the set before finding themselves with a 23-20 lead late in the set and were able to withstand a 3-1 Highlander run after a kill from Wilcox sealed the set by two.

A kill and an ace from Wilcox sparked a five point run in the fourth set to give McKendree an early 6-3 lead. The teams traded points in the middle stages of the set, but the Bearcats held steady with their three point margin at 18-15. New Jersey Institute of Technology wouldn't go away quietly as they rallied to take a 19-18 lead on back to back aces. The Highlanders looked to extend things to a fifth set after forcing set point at 27-26, but McKendree battled back with a 4-1 run to clinch the set and the match.