(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 31) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team earned a 3-0 win over Urbana University Friday night. The Bearcats improve to 5-4 overall on the season.

McKendree recorded its best team hitting percentage in the first set at .391 percent to win 25-15 against the Blue Knights. Urbana put up a fight in the second set forcing extra points but the Bearcats came out on top with a 29-27 win. McKendree collected its third sweep of the season with a 25-14 victory in the third set.

Junior outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) led the offense with eight kills. Ross recorded six of his eight kills in the first set for a .750 hitting percentage in the first set. Junior middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine) recorded the highest hitting percentage with six kills on nine attempts and no errors for a .667 hitting percentage. As a team, the Bearcats earned 34 of their 47.5 points off of kills. McKendree also collected four service aces while allowing none.

Defensively, sophomore libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School) and sophomore setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) led the back line, Comas with seven digs and Serrano close behind with six digs. Dimke was the lead blocker for the Bearcats with five block assists on the night. In total, McKendree tallied nine blocks in the three set match.

The Bearcats will resume competition on Saturday, Feb. 1 with a match against Tusculum University. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Lebanon, Ill.