FORT WAYNE, Ind. - McKendree University men's volleyball fell in five sets to Purdue University Fort Wayne on Thursday evening on the road. The Bearcats move to 6-11 on the season and 1-9 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association as they prepare for two home contests next week.  

The Mastodons led 2-0 after the first two sets, winning by a narrow 25-23 and 25-19 over the Bearcats. McKendree bounced back with a 25-22 win in set three, posting a .379 hitting percentage. The Bearcats kept the momentum rolling with a 26-24 victory in set four to send the game into a fifth set. Ultimately, Purdue Fort Wayne would slip away with a 15-13 win in set five to claim the overall 3-2 victory.  

Leading the Bearcats were freshman opposite side hitter Bryce Wetjen with 18 kills and nine digs while sophomore outside hitter Kevin Schuele recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 kills and 13 digs. Schuele also delivered a career-high five aces across the five sets.  

Redshirt senior middle blocker Jacob Gall bested his previous career-highs of eight kills set in McKendree's last game with 11 kills in addition to a career-high five digs.  

Defensively, freshman middle blocker Rolen Lively topped the blocks for the Bearcats with five.  

As a team, the Bearcats recorded 60 kills to the Mastodons' 56 in addition to serving a season-high nine aces to Purdue Fort Wayne's three. McKendree also registered a season-high 58 assists led by junior setter Tyler Poulsen with a career-high 50 assists. Purdue Fort Wayne controlled the blocks with 17.5 total to McKendree's 7.0.  

Coming up, the Bearcats return to the Melvin Price Convocation Center on Thursday, March 30 for a home match against No.12 Ball State at 7 p.m. followed by another MIVA match against No.15 Ohio State on Saturday, April 1 at 5 p.m.