(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 21) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team fell to No. 7 Loyola University Chicago, 3-1 on Thursday. The Bearcats are now 6-6 overall on the season and 3-1 in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) competition.

Despite the loss, McKendree outnumbered the Ramblers in total blocks, 12-8. The Bearcats have managed to outnumber their opponents in total blocks in 10 out of their 12 matches so far this season, continuing to prove they are a force to be reckoned with at the net. McKendree also earned five service aces throughout the match, whereas Loyola never managed one and the Ramblers currently have 82 total service aces recorded on the season compared to the Bearcats' 48.

McKendree started off the match with intensity as they opened set one with a five-point run to take the lead, 8-5 and force a Loyola timeout. From there, the Bearcats never lost the lead, utilized the momentum and ended the set off on back-to-back blocks and a sophomore middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine) service ace to win the first set, 25-16. The Ramblers answered back in sets two and three winning 25-20 and 25-19. McKendree fought back hard in set four and forced extra points but wasn't able to earn a fifth set with a 26-24 loss in the fourth set and 3-1 overall in the match.

Three Bearcats tallied double digit kills for the McKendree offense. Senior outside hitter Will Frank (Moro, IL/Edwardsville) led the way with 13 kills, followed closely by Junior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) who recorded 12 kills, and sophomore outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) was next with 11. Junior middle blocker Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East) earned the highest hitting percentage recording nine kills on 15 total attacks for a .400%. Four Bearcats claimed service aces, freshman setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) tallied two while Dimke, Galifos, and Frank each recorded one.

Defensive leaders for McKendree were freshman libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School), Frank, and Serrano. Comas led the pack with 15 total digs, Frank was next with 10, and Serrano was close behind with nine. At the net for the Bearcats' defense was Dimke, Ross, and Galifos. Dimke collected one solo block and five block assists to lead the team with six total blocks on the night. Galifos and Ross each tallied five total blocks for McKendree, Galifos with one solo block and four block assists and Ross with five block assists.

The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday Feb. 23 as they take on No. 10 Lewis University in the Statham Center at 7 p.m.