LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree men's volleyball posted a four-set victory over New Jersey Institute of Technology in its home opener on Tuesday evening at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. The Bearcats improve to 1-2 on the season following the win. 

McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead over NJIT, taking the victory in the first two sets with scores of 25-22 and 25-21. In the third set, the two teams saw 12 tied scores and four lead changes, though the Highlanders would pull away with a 25-21 win as they attempted to overcome the two-set deficit. The Bearcats would seal their first win of the season in the fourth set, defeating NJIT 25-20. 

Offensively, the Bearcats were led by redshirt junior outside hitter Kyle Wilson with a game-high and career-high 17 kills, posting a .312 hitting percentage. In addition to Wislon, sophomore outside hitter Kevin Schuele and freshman opposite hitter Bryce Wetjen added 11 kills each in the win. Schuele recorded his third double-digit performance of the season and also led with a game-high three aces.

Redshirt senior middle blocker Jacob Gall led in hitting percentage at .357, recording 7 kills and only two errors on 14 attempts. In assists, the Bearcats were led by junior setter Tyler Poulsen who tallied a season-high 46 assists on the night. 

Defensively, Wetjen and Schuele collected 10 digs each while redshirt senior middle blocker Daniel Duggan posted a game-high five total blocks. 

As a team, the Bearcats recorded 51 total kills while the Highlanders posted only 38 kills in the four sets. McKendree also topped the stat columns in assists 48-37, digs 29-23, and blocks 10-6. McKendree also tallied its highest hitting percentage of the season so far at .279. 

The Highlanders were led offensively by senior opposite hitter Julian Meissner with 10 kills and sophomore outside hitter Alessandro Negri with nine kills. 

Men's volleyball will be back in action next Friday, Jan. 20 as they host Central State in a 7 p.m. match at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.