GAME DAY LINKS
STATS VS. GEORGE MASON
WATCH
STATS VS. SAINT FRANCIS
(LEBANON, Ill., March 2) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team returns to action this week after an 11 day layoff with a pair of non-conference road contests beginning Friday at 7 p.m. ET against George Mason University in Fairfax, VA before wrapping up the weekend Saturday against Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA.
The Bearcats enter the weekend with a record of 6-11 overall.
Senior opposite
Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) has paced McKendree, averaging 3.41 kills per set along with 1.10 digs. Junior outside hitter
Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) is second on the team at 2.93 kills per set to pair with 1.40 digs. Senior middle blocker
Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) averages 2.10 kills per set, while leading the nation with a .534 attack percentage. Junior middle blocker
Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) has added 2.50 kills per set and leads the Bearcats in blocks per set at .83 per set.
Junior setter
Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) ranks tenth in the nation in assists per set at 10.33 to go with 1.52 digs. Senior opposite
Andrew Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) has put down 2.50 kills per set and junior outside hitter
Jared Wilcox (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) has added 1.95 kills and 1.02 digs per set. Sophomore libero
Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) has stuck 2.29 digs per set from the back row this season.
ABOUT GEORGE MASON
The Patriots enter the week on a four game slide, holding a record of 5-9 overall. George Mason is led by senior opposite Jack Wilson who has put down 3.28 kills per set on .229 attacking. Senior outside hitter Radoslav Popov is second on the team with 2.73 kills per set to pair with 1.09 digs per set. Sophomore middle blocker Langston Payne rounds out the top three scorers at 1.71 kills per set and leads the team with a .421 attack percentage. Junior setter Brian Negron has dished out a team high 9.31 assists per set, while senior middle blocker Graham Gresham leads George Mason with 1.08 blocks per set. Sophomore libero Seth Blevins has added a team high 2.04 digs per set from the back row for the Patriots. George Mason holds an identical 1-3 record against common opponents of McKendree this season. Friday's meeting will mark the first matchup between the two programs.
ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS
The Red Flash enter the week winners of two straight to bump its record to 8-9 overall. Freshman outside hitter Michael Fisher holds a team high 3.56 kills per set to pair with 1.10 digs. Senior opposite Jeff Hogan is second on the team in both kills and digs with 3.17 and 1.63 averages. Junior outside hitter Stephen Braswell rounds out the top three attackers for Saint Francis, averaging 2.61 kills per set along with 1.32 digs. Senior setter Daniel Ford has handed out a team high 10.14 assists per set to pair with 1.51 digs. Senior outside hitter Tony Nicotra paces the Red Flash with 16 blocks, averaging .94 per set, and sophomore libero Gabe Woffindin adds a team high 2.35 digs from the back row to aid Saint Francis defensively. The Red Flash share a 3-4 record with the Bearcats against common opponents this season, and the Saturday meeting will be the first contest between the two programs.
