(Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 6) -- On the final day of the 2018 Wooden Classic Tournament, the McKendree Bearcats (0-4) faltered twice, dropping a 3-1 decision against the King University Tornados, and getting swept the host school, #4 nationally ranked UCLA.

In their first match against King University, freshman Patrick Ross once again led the Bearcat offense, recording 15 kills in the match. Seniors Nolan Rueter and Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) combined for 21 total kills, with Rueter hitting .304.

Senior setter Pasquale Fiduccia and sophomore transfer Jorge Collazo both contributed a team-high seven digs, with Fiduccia picking up 45 assists. Junior libero Zach Thompson collected six digs in the losing effort.

King used an 8-2 scoring run in the first set to open-up an early seven point advantage, on their way to a 25-18 victory.

The Bearcats rebounded in the second with a 25-18 win, thanks in large part to a nine kill performance by outside hitter Patrick Ross.

The Tornados scored three straight points to end the third set, in which they prevailed 25-23, taking a 2-1 set lead in the match.

McKendree found themselves up 20-16 in the must-win fourth set, however King grabbed the next six points to take the lead away from the Bearcats. They would keep that momentum going, winning the set 26-24, sealing the victory.
 
In their second match of the day, red-shirt freshman Ethan Carroll picked up a team-high seven kills, hitting .500, while red-shirt senior Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) hit .857 with six kills and three total blocks.

Junior libero Zach Thompson led the Bearcats on defense, collecting a season high 11 digs. Freshman outside hitter Patrick Ross recorded 5 kills, 2 digs and 2 total blocks in the 3-0 defeat against the Bruins.

The Bearcats built a 15-12 lead in the first set, however the Bruins roared back, scoring five straight points. On its second set point, UCLA got a game clinching kill from red-shirt senior Oliver Martin to take the 1-0 overall lead.

The Bruins used a couple of 3-0 scoring runs late in the second to take the set 25-22. Senior outside hitter Jake Arnitz led UCLA with six kills, which included the final point of the set, giving them a two-set advantage.

UCLA completed a sweep of the Bearcats, finally cashing in on its fifth set point of the third. Four different Bearcat attackers recorded kills in the set, despite dropping it by a score of 29-27.

The Bearcats will now head to Nashville, TN for the inaugural Grow the Game Challenge. They will play against the Limestone College Saints on Jan. 12 and the Lincoln Memorial University Rail Splitters on Jan. 13.