LEBANON, Ill – McKendree's men's volleyball team takes down Lindenwood 3-1, evening the score after falling 2-3 in the Bearcats' first match against the Lions earlier in the season. The final set scores were 25-22, 25-23, 16-25, 25-20.
McKendree found themselves down 1-3 early in the first set, after Lindenwood went on a 3-0 run to start the match. The Lions obtained the lead for the early part of set one, with the Bearcats managing to tie the score twice. McKendree could not manage to take the lead until the Bearcats went on a 7-1 run, highlighted by back-to-back aces from junior setter
Nate Flayter and a kill from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen, to take control of the set at 16-12. Lindenwood would respond with a three-point run to bring the score within one, but the Bearcats answered with a three-point run of their own. Lindenwood would continue to chip away at the lead McKendree built, but the Bearcats would not allow the Lions any closer than one point. The Bearcats would end the set off a Lindenwood attack error.
Set two was a back-and-forth battle from the start. Anytime either team picked up a lead, the other would have an answer. There was a total of 11 ties in set two, with seven lead changes. McKendree did not gain total control of the set until the 18 all mark, thanks to back-to-back Lions' attack errors. After that point, Lindenwood could not manage to find the momentum to bring the score any closer than one point, let alone take the lead. A Wetjen kill would end the set and place the Bearcats up 2-0 on the match.
In a must-win set for Lindenwood, the Lions' proved to be up for the challenge. After six ties and early in the third set, Lindenwood managed to hold firm and possessed the lead from start to finish. With the last tie of the set at 7-7, the Lions found themselves on a 2-10 run. Lindenwood would shortly find themselves on a 2-5 run, reaching set point at 13-24. The Bearcats would answer with a three-point run, highlighted by an ace from graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp, but the effort was too late. Lindenwood would end the set and extend the match off a McKendree service error.
The Bearcats came into the fourth set and handled business, leading from start to finish. Early in the set was a lot of back-and-forth play, until McKendree went on a 7-2 run, highlighted by kills from Wetjen, redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin, redshirt sophomore
Will Klimek, and an ace from Flayter, leaving the score at 18-11. From there, the Lions would attempt to close the gap, making a late push with a three-point run to leave the score at 24-20, but a Wetjen kill would put the set and the match away.
Wetjen had the hot hand tonight with 16 kills and a hitting percentage of .313. Hoskin followed suit with 13 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Flayter led the offensive success charge, tallying 32 assists.
Defensively, the Bearcats picked up a total of 21 digs with Flayter leading the way in the back court with eight, followed by graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz with four. At the net, McKendree notched three total blocks (1 BS, 4 BA).
UP NEXT: The Bearcats continue the season at home next week as they take a pause on MIVA play to face Harvard University in a two-match series. Match one will be on Tuesday at 7:00 PM, followed by match two on Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
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