(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Jan. 25) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team fell to the University of California, San Diego in five set, 3-2 at the Lindenwood Invitational Saturday. The Bearcats are now 3-4 overall on the season.

McKendree opened the match with a 25-22 victory over the Tritons. UCSD answered back in the second set with the same score, 25-22 over the Bearcats to even things out at one set a piece. The Bearcats recorded their best team hitting percentage in the third set, .393 percent, to win 25-23 over the Tritons. UCSD took the third set 25-17 and the fifth and final set 15-8 to win the match 3-2 over McKendree.

For the second consecutive match, senior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) tallied double-digit kills to lead the Bearcats offense. In today's match, Schnittker recorded 16 kills to mark a new season high as well as six digs and three block assists. Senior middle blocker Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East) recorded the highest hitting percentage for McKendree, earning eight kills on 12 attempts with only one error for a .583 hitting percentage.

Two Bearcats collected double-digit digs in the match, sophomore outside hitter Brendon Dunn (Sherman Oaks, CA/Notre Dame) led the efforts with 12 and junior libero Jorge Collazo (Orlando, FL/Lake Nona (Lincoln Memorial)) was close behind with 11 total digs. Junior outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) was also an essential defensive player for McKendree's back line with nine digs on the match.

As a team, the Bearcats out-blocked the Tritons 12-10. Junior middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine) led those efforts for McKendree with two solo blocks and five block assists in the five set match. Galifos was also a key defensive player at the net for the Bearcats with four block assists in the match.

McKendree will close out the Lindenwood Invitational tomorrow, Jan. 26, with a match against Less-McRae. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m., in St. Charles, Mo.