(Muncie, Ind., April 14) -- The 2018 McKendree University men's volleyball season has come to a close, as they were swept by the #11 Ball State University Cardinals in the quarterfinal round of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association post-season tournament. The Bearcats finish the year with an overall record of 11-15 after earning a program best 6-8 record in conference play.

Senior outside hitter Nolan Rueter hit .455 with a team-best 13 kills in the match to go with five digs. Senior opposite side hitter Jared Wilcox and red-shirt senior middle blocker Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) combined for a total of 15 kills on the evening. Senior setter Pasquale Fiduccia recorded 34 assists and five digs in the loss, while junior libero Zach Thompson led the Bearcats on defense with seven digs.

The Cardinals started off the first set strong, taking a 7-2 lead out of the gate. The Bearcats would claw themselves back into the set, using a 9-3 scoring run to take the lead at 19-18. Ball State outlasted the Bearcats, however, taking the set by a score of 26-24 after a kill by Parker Swartz.

Ball State used an 8-1 run to take an early five point advantage in the second set. The Cardinals used that momentum to take the two set lead in the match, after being up by as many as nine. Sophomore outside attacker Matt Szews sealed the win with a kill, as the Cardinals took the set 25-20.

Neither team led by more than two points the whole duration of the closely contested third set. With the set tied at 23 all, the Cardinals used two kills to put away the Bearcats and solidify the sweep. Once again Ball State got a kill from junior middle attacker Parker Swartz to seal the set.

Nolan Rueter finishes his collegiate career as the all-time programs leader in kills for McKendree, with 993 total. Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) is the current all-time leader in total blocks for the Bearcats, earning 374 during his four year career. Pasquale Fiduccia recorded 3,275 assists in his career, and will graduate as the all-time program leader in that category.