LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball defeats #10 Penn State for the Bearcats first win against the Nittany Lions in program history. The Bearcats complete the upset victory in a three-set, sweeping fashion with the sets scores of 25-23, 25-16, 25-20.
The first set was a thriller from start to finish, with neither team being able to pull away from the other and create a lead. Neither McKendree nor Penn State allowed the other to go on a run until the Bearcats managed to go on a three-point run late in the set at 19-18, putting McKendree up 22-18. Penn State returned the favor by going on a four-point run of their own to tie the score back at 22 all. A kill by senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen gave the Bearcats set point, and it was a kill by redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin that put the set away, giving McKendree a one-set advantage.
McKendree opened the second set with all the momentum, going on a four-point run and taking an early lead at 4-1. The Nittany Lions soon responded with a three-point run to even the score at six all. The Bearcats were unable to create significant separation from Penn State, despite earning a few back-to-back points. McKendree eventually went on another four-point run. This stretch was highlighted by a kill from Wetjen, followed by a kill from Hoskin, and back-to-back aces from junior setter
Nate Flayter, leaving the score at 22-15. At this point, the Bearcats created a daunting lead late in the set. A service error by Flayter ended the run and gave a point, as well as the serve, back to Penn State. The Bearcats responded with another three-point run to put the set away and take a two-set lead over the tenth-ranked Penn State.
Set three featured eight ties, with McKendree leading most of the way and only briefly losing the lead twice. The Bearcats used a three-point run to pull ahead 20-17. A kill from Penn State's Miller Trubey ended the run, but McKendree answered with a four-point run for set and match point. The Nittany Lions scored twice to threaten a fourth set, but Wetjen's kill ended the set and match, giving the Bearcats a victorious home opener.
Hoskin paved the way offensively, recording an errorless match, notching 12 kills with a hitting percentage of .600. Hoskin was followed by Wetjen and graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp, both with eight kills on the match. Flayter ran the Bearcats' offense with 30 assists.
Defensively, the back court was led by Hoskin and Tripp, both with seven digs. Wetjen followed suit with five of his own. Middle blocker duo, senior
Rolen Lively and redshirt sophomore
Will Klimek, held it down at the net. Klimek notched five blocks, followed by Lively with four.
The Bearcats out served the Nittany Lions eight aces to two.
Up Next: McKendree will be back at home tomorrow, Jan. 24th, to face the #10 Penn State Nittany Lions once more at 1 PM CT.
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