(LEBANON, Ill., April 16) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team is set to face No. 8 Lewis University in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Semifinals on Wednesday April 17 at 7 p.m. in Romeoville, IL.

The Bearcats defeated Ball State University in a five set contest at home this past Saturday to head to the MIVA Semifinal match for just the second time in school history.

In the regular season, McKendree fell to the Flyers in its two matchups. The Bearcats dropped a 3-1 contest at home in the first match against Lewis and then lost 3-0 on the road against the Flyers. Lewis University currently sits eighth in the AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll.

The Bearcats are led offensively by junior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) who has recorded 218 total kills on the season. The junior also leads the team in service aces with 26 total. He is also a key defensive player for McKendree with 138 digs, five solo blocks, and 60 block assists.

Other offensive leaders for McKendree are sophomore middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine), sophomore outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), and freshman outside hitter Brendon Dunn (Sherman Oaks, CA/Notre Dame). Dimke has collected 157 kills, Ross has tallied 147, and Dunn has a total of 129.

Defensive leaders for the Bearcats are freshman setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), Schnittker, senior libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell), and freshman libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School). Serrano leads the group with 158 digs, Schnittker follows with his 138 recorded digs, Thompson is next with 118 total digs, and Comas is close behind with 114 total digs.

At the net for McKendree's defense is Dimke, junior middle blocker Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East), Schnittker, and Serrano. Dimke has recorded a total of 88 blocks to lead the Bearcats defensive efforts at the net. Galifos follows closely with 81 tallied blocks. Schnittker and Serrano are next, each with 65 total blocks on the season.

The winner of this match will face the winner of the other MIVA Semifinal match, which is Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Loyola University Chicago, in the MIVA Championships.

For more information about Lewis University, click here.