LEBANON, Ill. - The 14th ranked McKendree University men's volleyball team prepares to open its home portion of the schedule on Friday, Jan. 21 against Central State at 7 p.m. at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. 

The Bearcats opened the season two weeks ago at then ranked No. 9 Grand Canyon and fell in four sets in both matches. With the matchup against Central State, it will be the first time that these teams have met as this is the first year of Central State men's volleyball program.  

McKendree will look to pick up their first win of the season against Central State, who comes into the match 0-3. The men's volleyball program is 14 wins away from having 100 wins which have all been under head coach Nickie Sanlin. 

Graduate student outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek) needs two serve aces to break the school record of 65. Ross and graduate student outside hitter Ethan Carroll lead the team with 23 kills apiece. Redshirt senior setter Ryan Serrano (Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek needs 43 assists to be the second Bearcat men's volleyball player to record 2,000 career assists. 

The Bearcats have a one match home stand before heading to Tennesse next weekend to play King University and Lincoln Memorial before returning home on Friday, Feb. 4 against Maryville followed by two more home matches against Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association foes Ohio State and Ball State.