LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University men's volleyball picked up a hard fought four set Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) win over No. 12 Ohio State on Thursday night in front a loud, raucous season-high crowd of nearly 500 fans at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.
With the win the Bearcats improved to 4-3 and 1-0 in the MIVA, while Ohio State falls to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the MIVA.
The Bearcats open MIVA play with a win for the sixth consecutive season after the win over the NCAA Division I, Buckeyes. The Bearcats won 25-15 in the first set, followed by a 25-23 set two win before falling in set three 25-21 and picking up a 25-22 set four win. The win over the Buckeyes is also the third consecutive win over the Buckeyes dating back to February 12-13 when the Bearcats won two home matches last season.
"Opening MIVA play is always an exciting week, especially when we get to play in front of our home crowd. I was immensely proud of our team effort that we displayed tonight and to honor former Bearcat Kirk Jackson II with a win," McKendree head coach Nickie Sanlin said following the match. "The men are beginning to understand that each win must be done together and that was displayed on the court tonight."
McKendree recorded a .231 hitting percentage in the match while Ohio State hit .200 for the match as the Buckeyes recorded 27 attack errors. The Buckeyes also had 17 serve errors compared to McKendree's 12.
Offensively, the Bearcats were led by graduate student outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek) as he recorded a game-high 16 kills while tallying a .600 hitting percentage. Graduate student outside hitter Ethan Carroll (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) recorded 10 kills while freshman outside hitter Kevin Schuele (Aurora, Ill./Saint Francis) recorded a career-high 10 kills in the win.
Ross and Schuele led the way for the Bearcats as they recorded seven digs a piece. Senior libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) added six digs. The Bearcats also recorded 12 total team blocks against the Buckeyes. Redshirt senior middle blocker Tommy McGrath (Paradise Valley, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) recorded a solo block and five block assists. Carroll and redshirt junior middle blocker Jacob Gall (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) recorded four block assists a piece.
Sean Ryan led the way for the Buckeyes with 14 kills, while Jacob Pasteur added 13 kills and Samuel Clark added 11 kills as they fell to 0-4 away from home on the 2022 season with its loss to the Bearcats.
McKendree, who earned four votes in this week's AVCA Division I-II Coaches' Top 15 Poll, returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. as they conclude their three-match homestand against 10th-ranked Ball State. Ball State opened MIVA play on Thursday with a three-set win at sixth-ranked Lewis University.
