LEBANON, ILL. - McKendree University's men's volleyball team travels to Tennessee for a two-match road trip starting on Friday, Jan. 28.
The Bearcats enter this weekend fresh off their first win last Friday, Jan. 21 with a 3-0 sweep of Central State in front of a rowdy home crowd.
The Bearcats will be led by graduate student outside hitters Patrick Ross (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek) and Ethan Carroll (Barrington, Ill./Barrington). Ross leads the Bearcats with 31 kills while averaging 2.82 kills per set. Ross also enters play needing one serve ace to break the school record of 65 held by former Bearcat Nolan Reuter (2015-18).
Carroll is second on the team with 30 kills while averaging 2.73 kills per set. Carroll also leads the team with his 25 digs which 13 of them were recorded in the first match of the season on Jan. 7 when the Bearcats played then No. 9 Grand Canyon.
The Bearcats travel to Bristol, Tenn. on Friday night to play King University, who enters the match 1-4, at the Student Center Complex at 7 p.m. eastern.
King will be led offensively by Suetonius Harris (38 kills) and Diego Marcano (34 kills). Marcano is averaging 3.11 kills per set while Harris is averaging 2.62 kills per set.
On Saturday, Jan. 29 the Bearcats will be in Harrogate, Tenn. to match up against Lincoln Memorial at Mary Mars Gymnasium at 3 p.m. eastern. The Railsplitters host No. 11 Loyola Chicago on Friday night before hosting the Bearcats.
Offensively, the Railsplitters are led by Justin Sharfenaker (27 kills) and Cole Campisano (24 kills). Sharfenaker is averaging 3.38 kills per set over the first two matches of the season for the Railsplitters while Campisano is averaging 3.43 kills per set.
After this weekend's matches the Bearcats return home on Friday, Feb. 4 with a match against Maryville at 7 p.m. at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. The match against Maryville will also be the first of three straight home matches as the Bearcats will host Ohio State on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. and Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.
