(Lebanon, Ill., Feb. 4) --The McKendree University men's volleyball team fell on the road to No. 12 Ball State University Saturday afternoon in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball showdown in Muncie, IN. The Bearcats fell by scores of 25-16, 25-21, and 25-16.

The loss moves McKendree to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in MIVA play this season. The Bearcats return to action Feb. 9 when they host No. 10 Loyola University-Chicago.

McKendree was led offensively by junior outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) who put down a team high 13 kills to go with three kills and one block. Senior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) also hit double figures with 10 kills, adding three digs and two blocks. Senior middle attacker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) hit .429 after scoring on eight of his 14 attacks. Junior setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) dished out 34 helpers to pair with four digs and sophomore libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) posted nine digs for the Bearcats.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead with help from a pair of kills, but McKendree worked back into set one after junior outside hitter Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) and Rueter each put down a pair of kills to pull within one at 7-6. Ball State utilized three more 3-0 sprees to take a 19-12 advantage, but the Bearcats countered taking four of the next five points thanks to two more kills from Rueter to pull within four at 20-16. The Cardinals quickly halted the Mckendree momentum as they closed the set by taking the last five points to earn a nine point win in set one.

Ball State once again capitalized with consecutive points to go in front 10-5 in the second set. Walker and Rueter brought the Bearcats back within three at 16-13 as Walker landed three attacks, while Rueter scored two of his own. The Cardinals bounced back with the next three points to go up by six and were able to withstand a late surge from

McKendree that saw the Bearcats take six of eight points to trim the lead to three including four straight scores when facing set point to take a 2-0 lead.  
Ball State continued to string points together in set three using a pair of 4-0 runs to jump out in front before wrapping up the match with a nine point win in the third set.