(Lebanon, Ill., Jan. 3) -- The McKendree University men's volleyball program is set to begin its fifth season with a trip to California. The Bearcats, led by head coach Nickie Sanlin, will open 2018 tonight by taking on the #2 nationally ranked Long Beach State University 49ers, before heading to UCLA for the three matches at the Wooden Classic Tournament.

McKendree finished last season with an overall record of 11-19, placing sixth in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) standings, with a 6-10 record in conference play. They were ranked in the MIVA top five for kills (11.95 per set), assists (11.34 per set), digs (8.17 per set) and aces (1.14 per set) in 2017. The Bearcats are picked to finish in fifth position, based on the 2018 MIVA pre-season coaches poll, which was released last month.

McKendree has lost two Second-Team All-MIVA performers from last season to graduation, in Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) and Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor), who combined for 492 total kills last season. The Bearcats will look to senior Nolan Rueter and junior Will Frank to lead their offensive attack in 2018. Rueter was second in kills for McKendree behind Walker in 2017, averaging 2.84 per set, to go with 1.32 digs per set and 22 service aces. Frank, an outside hitter from Moro, IL, averaged 1.55 kills per set last year.

Junior libero Zach Thompson ranked third in the MIVA in digs last season, averaging more than two per set, and is expected to lead the Bearcats on defense once again. Senior setter Pasquale Fiduccia ranked second on the team in digs behind Thompson, averaging 1.67 per set, while also leading McKendree with 1,106 assists, placing him third in the conference in that category. The Hanover Park, IL native also collected 57 total blocks.

Red-shirt senior Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) recorded 68 total blocks last season, and was named to the 2018 pre-season All-MIVA Team. The 6-9 middle blocker from O'Fallon, MO also put away 89 kills for the Bearcats. Senior outside hitter Jared Wilcox averaged 1.70 kills and 0.85 digs per set in 2017.
 
Long Beach State University 49ers
2017 MPSF Champions
2017 Record: 27-4 (16-2, MPSF)
Key Returners:  TJ DeFalco, Jr OH (419 kills, .389%, 178 digs, 75 total blocks)
                            Kyle Ensing, Jr OH (350 kills, .335%, 162 digs, 85 total blocks)
                               
UC San Diego Tritons
2017 Record: 7-20 (3-15, MPSF)
Key Returners:  Tanner Syftestad, Sr Opp. (366 kills, .298%, 102 digs, 62 total blocks)
                            Milosh Stojcic, Sr S (872 assists, 107 digs)
 
UCLA Bruins
2017 Record: 17-10 (10-8, MPSF)
Key Returners:  Jake Arnitz, Sr OH (239 kills, .386%, 67 digs, 42 total blocks)
                            JT Hatch, Sr OH (169 kills, .328%, 139 digs)
 
King University Tornados
Conference Carolinas Co-Champions
2017 Record: 28-4 (16-2, Conference Carolinas)
Key Returners:  Jeff Sprayberry, Sr OH (369 kills, .259%, 149 digs, 51 total blocks)
                            Jon Wheaton, Jr MB (184 kills, .423%, 101 total blocks)