(LEBANON, Ill. – Jan. 24) – The McKendree University men's volleyball team opened their 2021 season with home court advantage over Lincoln Memorial University, Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats are now 1-0 on the season and 0-0 in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) competition.

The Bearcats had trouble finding their footing with it being the first match of the season. It had been 317 days since their last game, but they soon found their rhythm again. They would pull away with the first set 25-20. The second set, the Bearcats' service pressure worked in their favor, with a.898 serving percentage. Clean volleyball of good blocking and finding their offensive footing helped the Bearcats to take the second set 25-14. McKendree and Lincoln Memorial went back-and-forth in the final set, the Railsplitters increasing their attacking and McKendree improving on their serve-receive. The Bearcats would narrowly take the final set 25-22 for their first win of the season.

Senior outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) recorded double-digits in the victory, with 10 kills. He was followed by senior Zach Schnittker (Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) who recorded eight kills. Senior Lucas Galifos (Mokena,IL/Lincoln Way East) who tallied six kills and a team-high 10 blocks. Both junior Ryan Serrano (Phoenix, AZ/Boulder Creek) and senior Ethan Carroll (Barrington, IL/Barrington) had two aces each, while Ross added one. Serrano added 30 assists and five blocks, Ross also recorded five blocks, and Carroll added three blocks. Francisco Comas (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) led the way for the team with seven digs, followed by Schnittker who had six, and Carroll with three.

The Bearcats will open their MIVA competition in two games at Lindenwood University Feb. 4 and 6, both at 7:00 PM in the Robert F. Hyland Arena.