(FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 29) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team defeated its third nationally ranked opponent of the season with a 3-1 victory over No. 14 Purdue Fort Wayne. The Bearcats are now 10-7 overall on the season and 4-3 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA).

The Bearcats set the precedent for the match by winning the opening set 25-22. McKendree went on the claim set two as well 25-23 to gain a 2-0 lead over Purdue Fort Wayne. The Mastodons ended up taking the third set in extra points 26-24. The Bearcats closed out the match with a 28-26 win in the fourth set to earn the 3-1 win over nationally ranked Purdue Fort Wayne.

Junior outside hitter Ethan Carroll (Barrington, IL/Barrington) recorded a season best 22 kills in the victory. Senior opposite Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) also earned double-digit kills in the match with 13 total on the day. Senior middle blocker Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East) recorded the highest hitting percentage in the match for the Bearcats with seven kills on 13 attempts and just one error for a .462 percentage.

Four Bearcats tallied double-digit digs in the match with sophomore outside hitter Brendon Dunn (Sherman Oaks, CA/Notre Dame) leading the way with 14 digs. Sophomore libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley High School) was next for the Bearcats with 13 digs and then Schnittker and freshman setter Tyler Poulsen (Gilbert, AZ/Campo Verde) rounded out the back line efforts, each with 11 digs in the match. Senior middle blocker Wyatt Dimke (Ham Lake, MN/Blaine) was the lead blocker for McKendree with two solo blocks and six block assists on the afternoon.

McKendree will take a break from MIVA competition with two games at the University of Charleston March 13-14.