(Lebanon, Ill., March 1) – The Bearcats will welcome the two-time defending National Champion Ohio State University Buckeyes for a pair of Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association matches this weekend (Friday and Saturday at 7 pm). McKendree is coming off two conference road losses at #6 Loyola Chicago and #7 Lewis University, and are currently 6-8 overall and 3-3 in MIVA play.

Freshman outside hitter Patrick Ross, senior outside hitter Nolan Rueter and red-shirt senior middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) have all recorded more than 100 kills on the season so far for the Bearcats. Schmidt also ranks third in the MIVA in both hitting percentage (.429) and total blocks per set (1.08).

Junior libero Zach Thompson leads McKendree in digs, collecting 110 for an average of over two per set. Senior setter Pasquale Fiduccia is third in the conference in assists per set, averaging just under ten, and he has also earned 1.50 digs per set on the year.
 

#9 Ohio State University Buckeyes (11-4, 4-2 MIVA)

Ohio State is coming off a disappointing weekend, after getting swept by #7 Lewis University and falling in five sets at #6 Loyola Chicago. The Buckeyes currently lead the conference in kills per set (12.78) and hitting percentage (.332) as a team. Red-shirt freshman opposite Jake Hanes leads the MIVA in kills, averaging over four kills per set, while junior setter Sanil Thomas leads the conference in assists, with 594 on the year. Senior outside hitter Nicolas Szerszen is averaging 3.55 kills per set, ranking him third in the MIVA, and 2.15 digs, which leads the Buckeyes in that category.