LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree men's volleyball team survives against the Rockhurst University Hawks on Saturday evening in a close four-set thriller with the set scores of 25-22, 23-25, 27-25, 25-21.
Set one remained back and forth until the Bearcats went on a run of four points, followed by a run of three points, putting McKendree up seven at 15-8. Rockhurst would manage to bring the score within two at 19-17 with a three-point run, but the early lead the Bearcats paved was too much for the Hawks to overcome. Back-to-back kills from the outside hitter duo, redshirt sophomore
Boone Felts and redshirt senior
Sam Hoskin, put the first set away.
In the second set, the Hawks came out with an early run of three points to take a two-point lead at 4-6. McKendree would shortly respond with a run of five points to re-take the lead at 10-7. Rockhurst and McKendree would trade points back and forth until the Hawks went on a three-point run at 14-13, which allowed them to reclaim the lead at 14-16. The Bearcats would immediately respond with a three-point run of their own to take the lead back at 17-16. A McKendree service error would open another run of three points by Rockhurst, placing the lead back in their hands at 17-19. With the Hawks up 19-22, a kill from Hoskin would start a three-point run by the Bearcats to tie the score at 22 all late in the set. A Rockhurst kill and a service ace would put the set away for the Hawks, tying the match at one set apiece.
Rockhurst came into the third set hot, taking an early lead of six points at 2-8. With the score at 4-10, a kill from Felts opened a three-point run by the Bearcats, shortly followed by another run of three points started by a kill from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen to close the gap to a one-point game at 11-12. Points were traded back and forth, with the Hawks never giving up the lead. At 15-18, a kill from Hoskin opened up another run of three points to tie the score at 18. McKendree was able to take the lead for the first time in the set at 21-20 with a kill by Hoskin. After five ties late in the set, the Bearcats were able to come out on top, taking a two sets to one advantage.
The fourth and deciding set for the Hawks opened with seven ties and three lead changes. Rockhurst went on a five-point run to create separation from McKendree, taking the largest lead of the set at 8-12. The Bearcats would slowly claw their way back into the set, eventually going on a run of three-point to tie and take the lead back at 16-15, followed by another run of three points by McKendree to extend their lead to three points at 19-16. Rockhurst was out of gas and could not find the momentum to find their way back into the set. A kill from Wetjen would put the set and match away at 25-21.
Offensively, Felts led with 20 kills with a .305 hitting percentage, followed by Hoskin with 18 kills with a .421 hitting percentage. Wetjen added 13 kills. Junior setter
Nate Flayter notched 54 assists.
Defensively, Flayter led the back court with 14 digs, followed by graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz with 13 digs. Felts added six digs. At the net, Wetjen and redshirt sophomore Will Kilmek led the way with four blocks each.
UP NEXT: McKendree continues their home stand next week with a midweek match on Wednesday against MIVA opponent Lewis at 7 PM, followed by a Friday evening match against MIVA opponent Chicago Loyola at 5 PM.
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