(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 20) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team remains perfect at home with a 3-1 win over Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opponent Lindenwood. The Bearcats are 5-0 at home, 8-6 overall, and 2-2 in conference competition.

McKendree started the match slow, allowing the Lions to garnish an early lead in the first set that the Bearcats weren't ever able to overcome. Lindenwood took the first set 25-22. The Bearcats flipped a switch in the second set to win 25-21 and even the match out at one set a piece. McKendree dominated the third set, recording a team hitting percentage of .476, winning 25-14 over the Lions. Lindenwood offered tough competition in the fourth set and even force extra points but McKendree held on to win 28-26 and the match 3-1.

Junior outside hitter Ethan Carroll (Barrington, IL/Barrington) led the Bearcats offense with 10 kills in the match. Senior middle blocker Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East) and junior middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine) were also a strong forces for McKendree, each with nine kills on the night. Galifos managed to collect his nine kills on just 13 attempts with zero errors for a .692 hitting percentage. Senior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) had to step up in the second set as sophomore setter Ryan Serrano (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) was subbed out due to injury, Schnittker ended the match with 28 assists for the Bearcats.

Defensively, sophomore libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School) led the team in digs with eight on the night. Schnittker, junior outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), and freshman outside hitter Daniel Kaszuba (Schaumburg, IL/Schamburg High School) were also essential in keeping the back line strong, Schnittker with five digs and Ross and Kaszuba each with four digs. Galifos led McKendree's defense at the net with one solo block and four block assists.

As a team, the Bearcats recorded double-digit kills in three out of the four sets. In the opening set, despite falling behind to the Lions on the scoreboard, McKendree tallied 11 kills. The Bearcats then scored 10 points off of kills in the second set and went on to record a match high 16 kills in the fourth set. McKendree also collected more aces in the match than Lindenwood, 8-4.

The Bearcats will resume MIVA competition with a home match on Saturday, Feb. 22 against Quincy. First-serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.