LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University men's volleyball fell to No.12 Ball State and No.13 Ohio State in its final two home contests for the 2023 season this past weekend, moving to 6-13 overall and 1-11 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. McKendree honored libero Francisco Comas, middle blocker Jacob Gall, and middle blocker Daniel Duggan on Saturday evening in celebration of Senior Day.  

On Thursday, the Bearcats fell in three sets to Ball State as the Cardinals showed a strong offensive effort recording a .444 hitting percentage. The Cardinals claimed the victory by scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 25-20.  

Sophomore outside hitter Tyler Tripp registered a career-high 10 kills to lead McKendree while freshman opposite side hitter and Gall each tallied nine kills. As a team, the Bearcats recorded a .312 hitting percentage.  

On Saturday, McKendree dropped a well-fought MIVA contest to Ohio State in four sets. The Buckeyes secured the first two sets 25-21 and 26-24 before the Bearcats responded with a 25-20 victory in set three. The Bearcats and Buckeyes battled neck-and-neck to the last point of set four as Ohio State snuck away with a 26-24 win.  

Two Bearcats recorded double-digit kills including redshirt junior Kyle Wilson with 13 and Gall with 11. Junior opposite side hitter Nikos Xydakis tallied a career-high-tying seven kills with a hitting percentage of .600 in addition to a team-high two service aces.  

Comas snagged 10 digs for the fourth time this season to help push his career digs total over the 700 mark. Comas currently sits second in all-time career digs at McKendree with 707.  

The Bearcats will close out their regular season schedule this week with a 7 p.m. game at Quincy on Thursday and a 5 p.m. contest at Lindenwood on Saturday evening.