(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 4) – The McKendree University men's water polo team is set for a weekend full of competition in California. The Bearcats will play five games across the weekend, beginning with an exhibition matchup against the University of Redlands on Thursday at 7 p.m. PST. McKendree begins play in the Gary Troyer Tournament on Friday at Axelrood Pool at 2:15 p.m. PST against CalBaptist, followed up by a matchup against Whittier College at 6 p.m. PST. Saturday the Bearcats will play two contests at Haldeman Pool, the first comes against CalTech at 8 a.m. PST with the second at 2:15 p.m. PST against Pomona-Pitzer.
 
McKendree is 3-7 overall on the season heading into the weekend. The Bearcats are set for an extremely tough schedule on the weekend, with all five teams in ranked in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Men's Varsity Top 20 and/or the CWPA Men's Varsity Division III Top 10. McKendree's first matchup of the weekend comes in an exhibition match against McKendree head coach Ryan Hall's alma mater. The Bulldogs are No. 7 in the CWPA Men's Varsity Division III Top 10 and received votes to be in the CWPA Men's Varsity Top 20.
 
Following Thursday's matchup against the University of Redlands, McKendree will compete at the Gary Troyer Tournament. The first contest of the tournament comes against CalBaptist at 2:15 p.m. PST on Friday at Axelrood Pool on the campus of Claremont-Mudd Scripps. The Bearcats took on CalBaptist at the Bruno Classic falling 26-2. CalBaptist is currently ranked No. 15 in the CWPA Men's Varsity Top 20 Poll. The second game of the day for McKendree comes against Whittier College at 6 p.m. PST at Axelrood Pool. Whittier is tied with two other teams at No. 1 in the CWPA Men's Varsity Division III Top 10 and received votes to be in the CWPA Men's Varsity Top 20.
 
Saturday, McKendree heads to Pomona-Pitzer to compete at Haldeman Pool. The Bearcats open against CalTech at 8 a.m. PST. The Beavers received votes to be in the CWPA Men's Varsity Division III Top 10. McKendree closes tournament play against the host, Pomona-Pitzer, at 2:15 p.m. The Sage Hens are tied for the No. 1 ranking in CWPA Men's Varsity Division III Top 10 and ranked No. 19 in the CWPA Men's Varsity Top 20.