(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 1) – The McKendree men's volleyball team defeated Lourdes University in its first game of the Lindenwood Invitational Friday, 3-1. The Bearcats improve to 2-3 overall on the 2019 season.

McKendree started set one strong going up 5-2 over the Grey Wolves but attack errors by the Bearcats allowed Lourdes to tie things up. From there, McKendree fell stagnant allowing the Grey Wolves to gather a lead and ultimately win set one, 25-19.

The Bearcats were led in set two by junior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) who tallied five kills in the first 13 points for McKendree. From there the team gained momentum and sophomore outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), senior outside hitter Will Frank (Moro, IL/Edwardsville), and freshman middle blocker Tommy McGrath (Paradise Valley, AZ/Brophy College Prep) all picked up kills. Ross and Frank even clinched the key second set win with back-to-back kills to defeat Lourdes, 28-26.

In the third and fourth set, McKendree proved its strength and ability by taking full control of the match. The Bearcats defeated the Grey Wolves 25-16 in the third set and 25-15 in the fourth set to claim the 3-1 victory over Lourdes.

Schnittker led the team's offense with 15 total kills on the match followed by Frank with eight, then Dimke was close behind with seven. Five Bearcats managed the feat of a service ace throughout the match, freshman setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) recorded two while Schnittker, Ross, McGrath, and freshman outside hitter Brendon Dunn (Sherman Oaks, CA/Notre Dame) all tallied one.

At the net for McKendree's defense was McGrath with seven total blocks. Frank was next with four total blocks followed by Schnittker and Serrano who each had three. The defensive team leader in the back row with 10 total digs was Serrano followed by Ross and Schnittker, each tallying six digs in the match.

McKendree returns to match action tomorrow as it takes on the No. 1 team in the country, Long Beach State, for the second day of the Lindenwood Invitational. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.