LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team falls to the Ball State Cardinals in three sets, snapping the Bearcats' former nine-game win streak. The final set scores were 26-28, 22-25, 19-25.
Set one set the tone for the thrilling, competitive match that was ahead. McKendree jumped out to a quick three-point lead after a four-point run, highlighted by a kill from redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin and a Hoskin ace. The Bearcats were able to hold onto the lead, extending it to as much as four points, until a three-point run by Ball State brought the Cardinals within one-point at 13-12. Ball State would shortly find themselves on another run of four-point to take a two-point advantage over McKendree at 16-18. At 19-20, the Bearcats would go on a run of three points to reclaim a two-point lead late in the set. McKendree would reach set point off a kill from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen, but the Cardinals would answer with back-to-back points to give them set point. A kill from Wetjen would tie the score at 26, but back-to-back Ball State kills would end the set and give the Cardinals a 0-1 advantage on the match.
The second set picked up where the first left off. Set two consisted of 12 ties and four lead changes. The Bearcats grabbed an early three-point lead after going on a run of three-point, highlighted by a kill from Wetjen, leaving the score at 10-7. Ball State would eventually work the score back to a tie at 12-12. Points were traded back and forth between the two teams until 16-15, where the Cardinals would go on a three-point run, taking a two-point lead. From there, Ball State did not let up the lead. McKendree would bring the score within one point at 19-20, but the Cardinals would respond with another run of three points to give them a four-point lead late in the set. A Ball State kill would give the Cardinals set point. The Bearcats would make a push, scoring back-to-back points after a block from redshirt sophomore
Boone Felts and a kill from Hoskin, leaving the score at 22-24. Utlimetly it was too much for McKendree to overcome, with Ball State ending the set.
With all the momentum on the Cardinals' side of the net, Ball State came into the third set with a job to finish. The Cardinals took control of the final set early, with Ball State going on a three-point run at 6-6, the last tie in the set. The Bearcats could not seem to string together points. The Cardinals would shortly find themselves on another run of three points, leaving the score at 9-15. After a Hoskin ace and a Wetjen kill, McKendree was able to cut Ball State's lead to four points. The Cardinals would go on another three-point run to extend their lead to six points late in a must-win set for the Bearcats. McKendree and Ball State would trade points back and forth for the remainder of the set. The lead the Cardinals forged was too great, and the Bearcats could not find the momentum to come back and extend the match. A Ball State kill would end the set and match.
Wetjen had the hot hand in tonight's match, recording 17 kills while hitting at a .351 percent. Wetjen was followed by Hoskin and senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively, each with nine kills. Junior setter
Nate Flayter led McKendree's offense to a .324 hitting efficiency, tallying 38 assists.
Defensively, the Bearcats picked up 31 digs, with Felts leading the back court with 10 digs. Hoskin and graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz followed with seven and five digs, respectively. At the net, McKendree notched a total of six blocks (2 BS, 8 BA). Leading the way was Wetjen with two total blocks (1 BS, 2 BA).
UP NEXT: The Bearcats are hitting the road next weekend to take on #10 Loyola Chicago on Thursday at 7:00 PM.
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