(SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 9) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team opened its 2020 season with a 3-2 victory over No. 13 CSUN. The Bearcats improve to 1-0 on the season.

McKedree set a statement in the first set defeating the nationally ranked Matadors, 25-19. CSUN offered tougher competition in the second set, but the Bearcats still came out on top 27-25. Roles reversed and the Matadors took set three, 25-15 and the fourth set, 25-16. The fifth and final set of the game, McKendree managed to go the distance defeating the Matadors in extra points, 19-17 to take the match 3-2.

With the win, the Bearcats collect just their second ever win over a Big West Conference competitor, but it is not the highest ranked team McKendree has ever beaten. Last, season, the Bearcats took down No. 8 Brigham Young 3-1 at the BYU Invite on March 22, 2019.

Senior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) and junior outside hitter Ethan Carroll (Barrington, IL/Barrington) earned double-digit kills to lead the Bearcats' offensive efforts, Schnittker with 13 kills and Carroll with 10. Junior outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) and senior middle blocker Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East) were also impact players for the McKendree offense, Ross with nine kills and Galifos with eight.

Defensively, sophomore setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) led the Bearcats with 11 digs, sophomore libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School) followed suit with nine digs for McKendree's back line and Ross rounded out the efforts with seven digs of his own. Five Bearcats recorded blocks for McKendree, Galifor leading the team with four block assists on the night. As a team, the Bearcats out-blocked the Matadors 7- 4.

McKendree will take on reigning NCAA National Champion, No. 4 Long Beach State, on Friday, Jan. 10 for its second match of the Asics Invitational. First serve is set for 3 p.m. PST.