(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 18) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team defeated Saint Francis University, 3-0 Saturday night to pick up its first sweep of the season. The Bearcats improve to 3-2 overall on the season.

McKendree started the match strong, recording 11 kills for its highest hitting percentage of the game at .381 percent. At one point in the first set, the Bearcats led the Red Flash by ten points at the largest point spread, 19-9. McKendree closed out the set with a kill by senior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) to take the set 25-16 over Saint Francis.

The second set started in similar fashion, with the Bearcats taking an early lead. McKendree led the Red Flash by eight late in the set 23-15. Once again McKendree won off of a Schnittker kill to take the second set 25-17 and a 2-0 lead heading into the third set.

Saint Francis regrouped in the short break and came out scoring four straight points to go up on the Bearcats 4-1 to start the third set. The Red Flash maintained the lead for the majority of the set but the Bearcats never fell behind by more than four points, eventually tying the game up 18-18. Saint Francis went on a three-point run and then McKendree went on a three-point run of its own. The Bearcats ended up on top, winning the third set 25-23 and the match 3-0.

Junior outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), junior middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine), and Schnittker led the offensive efforts for the Bearcats. Ross tallied seven kills with a .353 hitting percentage to lead the team. Dimke recorded six kills on 11 attempts with no errors to finish the night off above 500, with a .545 hitting percentage. Schnittker was also an impact player collecting five kills in the match.

All seven Bearcats that played tonight earned at least one dig or more for McKendree's defense. Sophomore libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School) led the efforts with nine digs on the night. Sophomore setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) and Junior outside hitter Ethan Carroll (Barrington, IL/Barrington) were also essential in protecting the back line, each with four digs. Serrano also led the team in block assists with three on the night.

McKendree will resume competition with the Lindenwood Invitational Jan. 24-26 where they will take on Grand Canyon University, the University of California, San Diego, and Lee-McRae College.