LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University men's volleyball fell to No. 7 Pepperdine in three sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-20) on Friday night on Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. For the Bearcats, that was the first time this season they fell in three sets as their record moved to 7-6 on the season. 

The Bearcats recorded 42 kills compared to 35 kills for Pepperdine (8-5). The Bearcats did not record a serve ace for the first time since March 12, 2021, when they lost 3-0 to Lewis at home. The Waves recorded four serve aces in the match. 

Graduate student outside hitter Ethan Carroll (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) recorded a game-high 13 kills in the match. Graduate student outside hitter Patrick Ross (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek) recorded 10 kills. Ross has recorded 10 or more kills in 10 of the Bearcats 13 matches on the season. Redshirt senior outside hitter Brendon Dunn (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame) added nine kills in the match. Redshirt senior setter Ryan Serrano (Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek) recorded 37 assists in the match.  

Senior libero Francisco Comas (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) recorded a team-high seven digs. Ross added six digs while Carroll added four digs. Redshirt junior middle blocker Daniel Duggan (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North), redshirt junior Jacob Gall (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) and Serrano all had three block assists each. 

Pepperdine improves to 8-5 on the season with the win and 2-4 on the road. Jacob Steele recorded 11 kills and Spencer Wickens added 10 kills. Bryce Dvorak recorded a game-high eight digs. Jaylen Jasper added one solo block and four block assists along with Austin Wilmot recording four block assists. 

The Bearcats and Waves will matchup at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at the MPCC to complete the two-match series.