(Lebanon, Ill., Feb. 3) – Despite taking the opening set of the match, the McKendree University men's volleyball program lost their home opener to the #10 Grand Canyon University Antelopes in a non-conference contest on Saturday Evening. With the loss, the Bearcats fall to 3-5 overall on the season, while the Antelopes improve to 10-2.

Freshman outside hitter Patrick Ross led the Bearcats in kills, collecting 14, and averaged 3.5 points per set. Red-shirt senior middle Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) and Nolan Rueter combined for 19 total kills in the losing effort. Junior libero Zach Thompson had a team best 8 digs, while junior setter Pasquale Fiduccia recorded 42 assists.

The Bearcats scored three straight points in the middle of the first set to open an 18-13 advantage on the Antelopes. They led by as many as eight points during the first set, which they won by a score of 25-17, with seven players contributing kills.

McKendree was unable to carry that momentum into the rest of the match, as the Antelopes controlled play the rest of the way, taking the next three sets by a combined 22 points. Grand Canyon was led on offense by Cullen Mosher and Luke Turner, who had 15 and 14 kills respectively in the match.

The Bearcats will continue their 2018 schedule this Wednesday, as they resume Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) play against the #15 Fort Wayne Mastodons at home.