(LEBANAON, Ill., March 22) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team clinched the come from behind victory over No. 8 Brigham Young University, 3-1. This is the highest nationally ranked opponent the Bearcats have ever defeated in program history. McKendree is now 10-9 overall on the season.
McKendree found themselves down to start the match 17-10 at the farthest deficit in set one and weren't able to regain the lead at any point, falling to the Cougars 25-19. The Bearcats regrouped and rallied in the second set to defeat BYU, 25-23 and remained strong as a team to collect another 25-23 victory over the Cougars in set three. Then, program history was made as the Bearcats ran away with set four, 25-22 and the match, 3-1.
Freshman outside hitter
Brendon Dunn (Sherman Oaks, CA/Notre Dame) played a pivotal part in tonight's victory as he led the team in kills, service aces, and blocks. The freshman accumulated 13 kills, three of the Bearcats' five service aces, as well as four block assists on the night. Dunn was also strong in the back line for McKendree, recording eight digs.
Other key offensive performances were made by sophomore outside hitter
Ethan Carroll (Barrington, IL/Barrington) and junior opposite
Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove). Carroll entered the match late in the first set to break up the Cougars momentum and change up the Bearcats' team dynamic. From there the sophomore tallied 11 kills, two assists, one dig, and one block assist. Schnittker remained strong for McKendree the entire match recording 10 total kills, the other two Bearcat service aces, three block assists, and five digs.
The back line was held together by freshman libero
Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School) and freshman setter
Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek). Comas collected 11 digs while Serrano was right behind with 10 recorded digs on the night. Other defensive contributors at the net were sophomore middle blocker
Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine) and junior middle blocker
Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East), Dimke with four block assists and Galifos with three.
The Bearcats will round out BYU Invite action with a match against Princeton University tomorrow, March 23, at 12 p.m. MT in Provo, Utah.
