LEBANON, Ill. - The 14th-ranked McKendree University men's volleyball team picked up their first win of the season here Friday evening against Central State at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.
The Bearcats swept the Marauders in three straight sets after winning 25-17, 25-11, and 25-14. The Bearcats had a balanced offensive attack with four players recording six or more kills in the match.
The Bearcats had a.290 hitting percentage for the match while recording 32 kills, while Central State struggled offensively as they recorded a .031 hitting percentage. The Bearcats also had a 10-0 advantage in serve aces.
McKendree was led by graduate student outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek) as he recorded a game-high eight kills and also tied former Bearcat Nolan Reuter with his 65th career serve ace. Ross recorded his record tying ace in the second set to give the Bearcats a 12-3 lead in the set.
Freshman outside hitter Kevin Schuele (Aurora, Ill./Saint Francis) made his first career start tonight while recording seven kills. Graduate student outside Ethan Carroll (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) also added seven kills. The final Bearcat to record six kills was redshirt junior middle blocker Daniel Duggan (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) who recorded six kills on an .857 hitting percentage.
Redshirt senior setter Ryan Serrano (Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek) recorded 17 assists while playing two sets and redshirt sophomore setter Tyler Poulsen (Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde) added 11 assists.
Serrano and Poulsen recorded three serve aces a piece, while redshirt senior middle blocker Tommy McGrath (Paradise Valley, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) recorded two, and Ross and Carroll both recorded one ace a piece.
On the defensive side Schuele led the way with eight digs and three block assists. Serrano added six digs and two block assists. Senior libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) recorded five digs. Duggan was the only Bearcat to record a solo block in the match as the Bearcats recorded eight total blocks for the match.
The Bearcats return to action next Friday, Jan. 28 at King University at 7 p.m., in Bristol, Tenn.
