LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team battles back after dropping the first set against Queens University of Charlotte to snap their four-game losing streak. The final set scores were 22-25, 25,14, 25-22, 25-21.
Queens picked up an early lead to start set one with a three-point run to put the Royals up 4-1. McKendree followed with a Bearcats' run of three points to tie the score at four, kick-started by back-to-back kills from redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin. Queens would respond with a run of four points to reclaim their lead at 4-8. From here, the Royals obtained the lead throughout the majority of the opening set. The Bearcats slowly clawed their way back into the set, tying the score at 18 after going on a three-point run that was made up of back-to-back kills from graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp and a kill from senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively. With the score at 20-20, a kill from Hoskin gave McKendree its first lead of the set. Queens would put together back-to-back points to regain the lead, and would ultimately end the set on a run of three points.
The Bearcats lead the second set from start to finish. McKendree sided out exceptionally in set two, only allowing the Royals to earn back-to-back points once, and did not allow Queens to go on a single run. The Bearcats went on a three-point run at 10-8 to create a five-point separation from the Royals. McKendree extended their lead to 10 points as a result of a four-point run late in the set, compiled by a kill from junior setter
Nate Flayter, a kill from Lively, and back-to-back kills from Hoskin. This run left the score at 23-13. A kill from Tripp would earn the Bearcats set point, and an attack error by the Royals would even the match score at one set apiece.
McKendree came into set three with all the momentum and started hot, going on a run of five points to take an early lead at 6-2, highlighted by a Hoksin kill and a kill from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen. Queens would fight to close the gap with a three-point run to tie the score at eight. The Bearcats would shortly respond with their own run of three points, composed of two kills from redshirt sophomore
Will Klimek, broken up by a kill from Hoskin, to put them back up four points at 15-11. From there, the Bearcats hit the gas and did not allow the Royals any closer than two points at 22-20. A kill from none other than Hoskin would put the third set to bed, placing McKendree up two sets to one on the match.
In the fourth set, the Bearcats found themselves up 5-3 after going on their first run of three points, highlighted by a kill from Lively and a kill from Flayter. McKendree obtained this lead for the remainder of the final set. Going on another three-point run, the Bearcats were able to stretch their lead to four at 13-9. Queens was able to knot the score at 16, but McKendree had an answer with a kill from Klimek to reclaim the lead and kick-start a five-point run that would leave the score at 21-16. The Royals would attempt to find life and force a fifth set, but back-to-back Queens service errors would hand the Bearcats set and match point.
Three Bearcats were in double figures offensively, with Hoskin leading the way with 14 kills. Hoskin was followed by Lively with 12 kills and Wetjen with 10 kills. Lively ended with a notable hitting percentage of .500. Klimek notched a career-high six kills, while hitting at a .444 percent. Flayter added a season-high seven kills, while dishing out 43 assists.
Defensively, Tripp was the leader in the back court, picking up a career-high 14 digs. Flayter and graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz each contributed 12 digs. At the net, Hoskin led the way, collecting seven blocks (1 BS, 6 BA). Lively and Kilmek each contributed four blocks (4 BA). Flayter and Wetjen also joined in tallying three blocks (3 BA).
UP NEXT: McKendree will face the Queen University of Charlotte Royals again tomorrow for a 2 PM match.
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