(Lebanon, Ill., Feb. 10) – Senior Jared Wilcox recorded a team-high 16 kills, helping the McKendree University Bearcats earn their second Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association victory of the season, dropping the Ball State University Cardinals in four sets. With the victory, their first at home of 2018, the Bearcats end a two game losing streak, improving to 4-6 overall on the year. The Cardinals fall to 5-7 overall and 0-2 in conference action with the loss, after they lost in five sets to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday evening.

After dropping the first set by a score of 25-19, the Bearcats rallied to take the next three sets, 25-21, 26-24, and 25-17. McKendree hit over .400 in the second and third sets, and won the defensive battle at the net, out-blocking the Cardinals in convincingly in the match by a total of 13-5.  

Red-shirt senior middle Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) led the Bearcats with seven total blocks, while Patrick Ross and Wyatt Dimke added six and five respectively. Junior libero Zach Thompson had team-leading effort on defense, collecting 16 digs, and senior setter Pasquale Fiduccia had 40 assists on the night.

The Bearcats will continue play at home on Friday, as they will welcome the University of California San Diego Tritons for a 7 pm match. It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, as the Tritons defeated McKendree in five set last month in Los Angeles, CA.