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(Lebanon, Ill., Feb. 15) -- The McKendree University men's volleyball program is set to continue play at home, as they will face the University of California San Diego Tritons in a non-conference on Friday, before taking on the Quincy University Hawks in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tilt on Monday. The Bearcats and the Tritons met back in January, with UCSD winning in five sets, while McKendree and Quincy have played each other eight times, with both teams winning four matches.

The Bearcats are currently 4-6 overall on the season, and sit at 2-1 in conference action, following an important four set win against the Ball State University Cardinals last Saturday at home. McKendree is currently receiving votes in the AVCA Division I-II top 15 national poll, which is a first for the program in its five year history.

Senior outside hitter Jared Wilcox earned MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honors following a 16 kill performance against Ball State, in which he hit .371. Junior libero Jared Wilcox was named the MIVA Defensive Player of the Week, after averaging 3.4 digs per set in two matches for the Bearcats.

Freshman Patrick Ross and red-shirt senior Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) lead the Bearcats on offense, recording 99 and 90 kills respectively through ten matches played. Ross is also averaging 1.29 digs per set, while Schmidt leads McKendree in total blocks, putting up an average of 1.14 per set, and is hitting a blistering .452.

Senior setter Pasquale Fiduccia is currently fourth in the MIVA in assists, averaging ten per set, and has also collected 55 digs on the season so far. Senior Nolan Rueter has compiled an average of 2.41 kills and 1.46 digs per set for the Bearcats.
 
University of California San Diego Tritons (7-5, 0-0 Big West)
After starting the season strong with at 7-2, the Tritons have dropped their last three matches, falling to Stanford, BYU and Concordia Irvine.
Senior opposite Tanner Syftestad leads the Big West conference in kills, averaging five per set with 220 total. He is first on his team in total blocks, with 42, and second in digs, averaging 1.55 per set. Senior setter Milosh Stojcic leads the Tritons in digs, recording 83, and assists, compiling 450. Bryan Zhu also has put down 42 total blocks, while Alec Flowers is hitting .427 and averaging just under one block per set.
 
Quincy University Hawks (8-5, 0-2)
The Hawks are coming off of two losses to MIVA opponents over the weekend, in Loyola Chicago and Lewis.
Senior outside hitter Anthony Winter is pacing Quincy with just over four kills per set hitting .313, while senior libero Collin Merk has earned 2.07 digs per set, which is good enough for top five in their conference.