(Columbus, OH. Mar. 31) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team fell in straight sets to the No. 1 Buckeyes of Ohio State University Friday evening in Columbus, OH. The Bearcats fell by scores of 25-17, 29-27, and 25-18.

The loss drops McKendree to 9-17 overall and 4-9 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. The Bearcats will get a chance at redemption tomorrow evening as they will once again square off with the Buckeyes at 6 p.m.

Junior outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) and sophomore outside hitter Will Frank (Moro, IL/Edwardsville) tallied seven kills each to pace McKendree. Frank also added eight digs and an ace. Senior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) put down six kills to go with three digs. Senior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) went 5-9 from the field, while junior middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) hit .667 with four kills on six swings. Junior setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) dished out 21 assists to pair with eight digs, while sophomore libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) tied Frank and Fiduccia with a team high eight digs from the back row.

Walker landed a pair of attacks as the Bearcats opened the match with a 5-4 lead. Ohio State countered with a 7-2 run to take a 12-8 advantage before a 5-1 spree that put the Buckeyes on top 21-13. Rueter put down a pair of kills late in the set but it was not enough to spark a comeback as Ohio State took a 1-0 lead.

A kill from Fiduccia and an ace from Patterson opened a 4-1 lead for McKendree in set two. The Buckeyes fired back with six of the next seven points to go in front 7-5, followed by a 4-1 run to jump ahead 12-8. A kill from Rueter and Patterson's second ace of the set jump started a 5-1 run for the Bearcats that tied the set at 14 all. Ohio State moved in front 17-15, but McKendree rallied with four straight after kills from Frank and Patterson put the Bearcats on top at 19-17. The Buckeyes sandwiched a pair of 3-0 runs around two points from McKendree to take a 23-21 lead, but Frank, Fiduccia, and Schmidt all converted attacks to flip the script as a 4-1 run forced set point for McKendree with a 25-24 lead. The Buckeyes responded with a pair of kills, but the Bearcats wouldn't be outdone as Rueter and Walker torched back to back kills to push Ohio State to the brink at 27-26. The Buckeyes regained control with two straight kills before completing the comeback with a kill on set point to take a 2-0 lead.

Rueter and Frank put down kills as McKendree once again opened an early lead at 5-4. The teams traded points until a 3-0 run from Ohio State gave the Buckeyes an 11-8 advantage. Walker put away a pair of attacks as the set shifted to 14-12 in favor of Ohio State. Another 3-0 run opened a 19-14 lead for the Buckeyes. Frank brought McKendree within three at 21-18 after scoring on a pair of swings, but Ohio State proved to be too much as the Buckeyes closed out the match on a 4-0 run.