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(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 19)--The McKendree University men's volleyball team opens its 2017 home schedule Friday at 7 p.m. against Emmanuel College after starting off the season with a seven-game road trip. The Bearcats play host to a pair of contests in the next six days before heading back on the road.

McKendree enters the weekend with a record of 1-6 with each of its six losses coming against teams ranked in the top 12 in the nation.

The Bearcats are led by senior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) who averages a team high 3.62 kills per set. Walker has also tabbed 1.15 digs per set and 10 blocks for McKendree. Junior outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) is second on the team in kills at 2.96 along with 1.08 digs. Junior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) rounds out the top three scorers for the Bearcats at 2.00 kills per set while hitting .552 and leads the team with 19 blocks.
 
Sophomore setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) and leads the Bearcats in assists with an average of 10.35 per set to go with 1.5 digs and 11 total blocks. Senior middle blocker Michael Polizzi (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet Jesuit) has contributed 1.12 kills to pair with 12 total blocks and sophomore libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) has a team high 1.85 digs from the back row to aid the Bearcats defensively.
 
ABOUT EMMANUEL COLLEGE
 
The Lions are 1-1 on the season and are led by freshman Aleksa Lakic who averages a team high 2.71 kills per set to go with .71 digs. Junior outside hitter Gilberto Cervantes has put down 2.00 kills to pair with 1.17 digs. Sophomore setter Caleb Bonaventure averages a team high 8.14 assists per set along with 1.43 digs while junior middle blocker Ackeem West leads Emmanuel in blocking at 1.86 per set along with 2.29 kills per set on .357 attacking. Senior libero Stephan Diaz has stuck 2.57 digs per set for the Lions. This marks the first meeting between the two programs and the teams have yet to face a common opponent this season.