LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University men's volleyball is set to host two Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opponents this week, facing Lindenwood University (RV) on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. and Quincy University on Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m. The Bearcats are 7-6 overall and 4-3 in the MIVA so far this season.
McKendree faces Lindenwood for the first time in the 2024 season as the last time the two met was April 8, 2023. The Bearcats and Hawks meet for the second time this season; their first meeting was at Quincy and the Bearcats came away with a 3-0 win on February 8.
In MIVA standings, McKendree is third by record and leads in team digs, tallying 10.69 per set. Additionally, the Bearcats rank second in assists at 12.33 per set and kills at 13.15 per set. Individually, McKendree and the MIVA are led in digs by junior outside hitter Kevin Schuele who collects an average of 2.64 digs per set. Schuele is followed closely by redshirt sophomore libero Yadiel Diaz with 2.21 digs per set and redshirt senior setter Tyler Poulsen with 2.05 digs per set; Diaz and Poulsen rank fourth and fifth respectively for digs in the conference. Poulsen is second in assists while sophomore middle blocker Rolen Lively takes second in blocks per set.
Lindenwood enters Wednesday's game with an overall record of 5-8 and 2-4 in the MIVA. In the most recent AVCA poll, Lindenwood received five votes after going 1-1 against No.12-ranked Loyola Chicago last week. By record, Lindenwood ranks seventh in the MIVA. As a team, the Lions rank first in three statistical categories: points per set, assists per set, and kills per set. Leading the Lions and the MIVA in assists is setter Connor Sheehan who averages 11.52 assists per set.
Quincy comes to Lebanon with a 5-6 overall record and a 1-6 MIVA record for the second matchup with McKendree this season. Right side hitter Raje Alleyne tops the kills per set list for the conference with an average of 4.27 kills per set.
McKendree men's volleyball invites fans to participate in the themes for this week's games. On Wednesday, the Bearcats will host a Black Out; on Friday, the Bearcats invite you to wear a flannel and denim.
Both games will be streamed on the GLVC Sports Network at glvcsn.com/mckendree.
