LEBANONL, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team survives against the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey in a five set battle, extending the Bearcats win streak to five games. The final set scores were 25-21, 25-21, 22-25, 20-25, 15-3.
Set one set the tone for the tight, back-and-forth match that was to come. The Crusaders jumped out to a three-point run to take a one-point advantage early in the set at 2-3. From there, McKendree and Belmont Abbey traded points back and forth, neither team allowing the other to gain any momentum. At 13-14, the Bearcats found themselves on a three-point run, highlighted by a kill from graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp and a service ace from redshirt senior
Sam Hoskin, taking a two-point lead at 16-14. After a service error from Hoskin, McKendree managed to go on another run of three points, highlighted by a kill from senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively and Tripp, extending the Bearcats lead to four points. McKendree and the Crusaders traded points back-and-forth for the remainder of the set, with a kill from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen giving the Bearcats set point, and a kill from Hoskin handing McKendree a 1-0 advantage on the match.
The Bearcats opened the second set with back-to-back points, thanks to a service ace from Tripp and a kill from Hoskin. McKendree continued chipping away, extending their lead to nine points after going on an 8-1 run, composed of a kill from Hoskin and back-to-back kills from Wetjen, leaving the score at 15-10. After a Belmont Abbey kill, the Bearcats would go on a five-point run, highlighted by back-to-back aces from Hoskin and a kill from Tripp. The Crusaders did not go quietly, battling back by going on a 3-9 run. Ultimately, the lead McKendree built was too much for Belmont Abbey to come back from. A kill from Hoskin ended the set and placed the Bearcats up 2-0 on the match.
In the third set, the Crusaders jumped out to an early three-point run to take a one-point advantage at 3-4. McKendree would respond with a three-point run of their own, made up of a Wetjen kill and back-to-back service aces from redshirt sophomore Will Kilmek, to place the Bearcats up one at 8-7. From there, the remainder of the set consisted of 12 ties, with McKendree only giving up the lead twice. With the score at 21-20, Belmont Abbey would go on a 1-5 run to end the set and extend the match.
The Crusaders opened the fourth set with a 1-4 run to take an early three-point lead. The Bearcats would respond by going on a five-point run, highlighted by three kills from Wetjen and a service ace by Hoskin, to take their first lead of the set at 7-5. Belmont Abbey would shortly answer with a run of three points to place the lead back in their hands at 9-10. After some back-and-forth play, the Crusaders would find themselves on a 1-6 run to extend their lead to six points late in the set at 17-23. McKendree battled back, but could not overcome the deficit. Belmont Abbey took the fourth set, evening the match at two sets apiece, forcing a fifth set.
Despite the Crusaders' relentless fighting efforts, the fifth set was all Bearcats. McKendree only allowed Belmont Abbey one earned point in the short 15-point set. Two of the three points awarded to the Crusaders were Bearcat errors. McKendree opened the set with back-to-back kills, one from Hoskin, followed by junior setter
Nate Flayter. After a Bearcat service error, McKendree would go on an eight-point run, highlighted by kills from Wetjen, Flayter, and Hoskin. Belmont Abbey would try to build some momentum after a kill, but the Bearcats proved relentless and determined, going on a four-point run, highlighted by kills from Wetjen and Klimek and a service ace from Flayter. A service error from Flayter on match point would give the Crusaders their last spark of hope, but a kill from Wetjen put the set and match away.
Wetjen had himself an offensive night, recording a career-high 26 kills (5.2 kills/set) with a .452 hitting efficiency, followed by Hoskin with 12 kills, notching a .351 hitting efficiency. Lively joined into the offensive fun, tallying eight kills, hitting at a .444 percent. Flayter led McKendree's offense to a .333 hitting efficiency, recording 49 assists (9.8 assists/set) and added six kills. The Bearcats served a total of 10 aces in tonight's match, with Hoskin responsible for a career-high five aces.
Defensively, Tripp and graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz anchored the back court with 12 and 10 digs, respectively. At the net, McKendree notched a total of four blocks (1 BS, 6 BA), with Klimek leading the charge with two (1 BS, 2 BA).
UP NEXT: The Bearcats are back at home Friday for a 6:00 PM match against Lindenwood.
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