(Lebanon, IL. Apr. 1) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team fell in three sets to No. 1 Ohio State University in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association contest Saturday night in Columbus, OH. The Bearcats fell by scores of 25-18, 26-24, and 25-15.

The loss dips McKendree to 9-18 overall and 4-10 in the MIVA this season. The Bearcats return to the court Apr. 6 against Quincy University in Quincy, IL.

Senior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka), junior outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington), and sophomore outside hitter Will Frank (Moro, IL/Edwardsville) each recorded eight kills with Walker and Frank each putting up four digs. Senior middle blocker Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) hit .571 from the field after scoring on four of his seven swings. Junior middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) recorded three kills and posted a team high two blocks. Junior setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) handed out 26 assists to go with two digs and one block.

Patterson and Frank each recorded early kills in the first set, but McKendree found themselves trailing 5-4. The Buckeyes followed with a 5-1 run to burst out to an 11-6 lead. Walker and Patterson countered with back to back kills to spark a 5-2 run for the Bearcats to pull within two at 13-11. The teams traded points and Rueter and Frank added kills as the set shifted to 17-15 in favor of Ohio State. The Buckeyes followed with four straight points to open a 23-16, and kills from Rueter and Frank were not enough down the stretch as Ohio State claimed set one by seven.

Walker, Rueter and Schmidt all put down kills as McKendree took an early 6-5 lead in set two. A 3-0 run from the Buckeyes put Ohio State ahead 10-8. Three more kills from Rueter, Walker, and Schmidt tied the set at 11 before Patterson and Walker connected on swings as things squared at 15. The Bearcats took advantage of three straight errors from Ohio State to capture a 20-19 lead, before surrendering three straight points as the Buckeyes took a 22-20 lead. Frank landed a pair of kills to tie the set at 24 all, but Ohio State earned the final two points of the set to take a 2-0 lead.

Rueter put down a kill and a block as the teams battled to a 4-4 score early in set three. A 6-1 run from the Buckeyes gave Ohio State a 12-7 lead before a 4-0 run extended the margin to 16-9. A pair of 3-0 runs put the set out of reach at 22-12 as the Buckeyes secured the match with a win in set three.