LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team began MIVA play on Wednesday evening in a sweeping fashion, upsetting the #11 Lewis Flyers in a battle on the Bearcats home court. The final set scores were 26-24, 25-24, 26-24.
The Flyers opened the first set on a three-point run, followed by points being traded back and forth as a result of three back-to-back Bearcat service errors. With the score at 4-7, McKendree went on a three-point run to tie the set early. The Bearcats went on another run of three points halfway through the set at 13-15, to take the lead for the first time in the set. With the score at 17 all, McKendree responded with a four-point run to take a commanding three-point lead late in the set at 21-17. The Flyers answered within a run of three points to bring the set with one point at 22-21. McKendree and Lewis traded points back and forth for the remainder of the set, with a kill from senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively, followed by a block by Lively and redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin putting the first set away.
Set two began with back-and-forth play until Lewis pulled away, taking a three-point lead at 3-6. The Bearcats worked their way back into the set, tying the score at 15, with a kill from junior setter
Nate Flayter, followed by McKendree taking their first lead of the set at 17-16. With the Flyers and the Bearcats trading points back and forth, McKendree was able to find the momentum to end the set on a three-point run, putting the second set away with back-to-back kills from Hoksin.
In the third set, the Bearcats were on fire. McKendree came out to an early nine-point lead due to an eight-point run with redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Will Klimek behind the service line. The Flyers slowly chipped away at the lead, going on their first run of three points at 18-10, leaving the score at 18-13. Lewis continued to chip away at the daunting deficit in front of them, but could not find the momentum to earn more than two points back-to-back. Down five points in a must-win set, the Flyers manage a five-point run to tie the score at 24. Despite Lewis' fighting efforts, McKendree was able to put the set and match away with a Flyers attack error and a service ace from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen.
Offensively, Hoskin and Wetjen led all attackers with 11 kills each, with Flayter collecting 34 assists, leading the Bearcats to a .272 hitting efficiency. Hoksin and Wetjen received help from graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp with eight kills, and Flayter earned five kills of his own in the match.
Defensively, McKendree had a night. Flayter held his own in the back court, picking up 10 digs, followed by Tripp and Wetjen, each with seven. Hoskin and graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz added six digs each. At the net, Lively tabbed eight blocks (1 BS, 7 BA). Wetjen and Tripp added three blocks each.
UP NEXT: Catch the Bearcats at home on Friday at 5 p.m. as they close out their home stand and continue MIVA play with #7 Loyola Chicago.
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