(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 13) — The McKendree University men's volleyball team will play host to No. 4 University of Hawai'i Tuesday at 7 p.m. inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.

The Bearcats, who enter the week with a record of 5-10 overall and a 1-4 clip in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, will be the first non-conference road match for the Rainbow Warriors since 1996.

McKendree is led by senior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) who averages a team high 3.49 kills per set. Walker has also tabbed 1.12 digs per set and 23 blocks for the Bearcats. Junior outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) is second on the team in kills at 2.92 along with 1.41 digs. Junior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) rounds out the top three attackers for McKendree at 2.10 kills per set, while leading the nation in hitting percentage at .547 to go with 31 blocks.
 
Junior setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) sits eighth in the nation assists with an average of 10.48 per set along with 1.62 digs and 22 blocks. Junior outside hitter Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) adds 2.20 kills and 1.17 digs per set, while junior middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) has contributed 2.40 kills, hitting .444. Sophomore libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) has a team high 2.32 digs from the back row to aid the Bearcats defensively.
 
Hawai'i rides a seven-match win streak into the week and is off to its best start since 1998 with a record of 12-2 overall. The Rainbow Warriors are paced by sophomore opposite Stijn van Tilburg who has put down 4.12 kills per set on .351 attacking to go with 1.00 digs per set and 30 blocks. Freshman opposite Rado Parapunov is second on the team with 2.86 kills per set and freshman outside hitter Austin Matautia sits third with 2.76 kills to pair with 1.59 digs per set. Senior setter Jennings Franciskovic has averaged 9.54 assists per set along with 1.41 digs, while senior middle blocker Hendrik Mol leads the Rainbow Warriors in blocks at 1.07 pet set. Sophomore libero Larry Tuileta adds 2.16 digs per set from the back row for Hawai'i.
 
Tuesdays match marks the first ever meeting between the two programs as the Rainbow Warriors hold a record of 3-2 against common opponents of McKendree this season, while the Bearcats have gone 0-3 in those matches. McKendree is 0-6 against Mountain Pacific Sports Federation teams, with Hawai'i off to a 3-0 showing against members of the MIVA.