CHICAGO, Ill. - McKendree University men's volleyball faced Loyola University Chicago in the quarterfinal round of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tournament this past weekend. The Bearcats upset the No.2 Ramblers 3-2 and became the first No.7-seeded team to win a match in the MIVA tournament. Last season, the Bearcats fell in the semifinal round to the Ramblers, 3-2. 

Loyola Chicago posted a score of 25-19 to take the lead 1-0, though the Bearcats secured two straight wins in the second and third sets, 25-23 and 25-20. The Ramblers hit over .600 in the fourth set to win 25-20 and send the game into its fifth set. McKendree sealed the victory with a score of 15-12 in the fifth set as redshirt junior opposite hitter Kyle Wilson delivered the final three kills for the Bearcats.  

Two Bearcats recorded double-doubles while two more posted 20 or more kills as redshirt junior Tyler Poulsen tallied 46 assists and 10 digs and graduate student libero Francisco Comas delivered 12 assists and 10 digs. Freshman opposite side hitter Bryce Wetjen and Wilson led in kills with 22 and a career-high 21, respectively.  

McKendree's middle blockers led in hitting percentage as each fired seven kills for the contest. Redshirt senior Jacob Gall registered a .583 percentage and freshman Rolen Lively followed closely behind Gall at .500.  

Loyola Chicago ends its postseason run with a 21-7 overall record and 11-3 league record. The Ramblers were led by All-MIVA First Team selection opposite side hitter Parker Van Buren with 21 kills.  

Up next, the Bearcats travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the No.3-seeded Buckeyes of Ohio State University on Wednesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. ET.