COLUMBUS, Ohio – McKendree's men's volleyball team comes out victorious against Ohio State in three sets with the final set scores of 25-23, 31-39, 25-23.
The Bearcats found themselves down three points early in the first set after the Buckeyes went on a three-point run, but a kill from redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin would end the run and put McKendree within two points. From there, the Bearcats did not allow Ohio State to gain a lead larger than three points. McKendree managed to tie the score at 10-10 off a kill from senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively, but the Buckeyes had an answer in back-to-back points to reclaim the lead. The Bearcats followed by going on a 6-2 run to take their first lead of the set at 16-14, highlighted by a four-point run that was ignited by a block from junior setter
Nate Flayter and followed up by a kill from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen and back-to-back service aces from Flayter. The Buckeyes would quickly knot the score back up at 16-16 with back-to-back kills, but McKendree would respond with a three-point run composed of a kill from Wetjen and back-to-back kills from Lively. With a run of three points, Ohio State was able to tie the score at 20-20 late in the set, but the Bearcats would answer with a kill from Lively to reclaim the lead. The Buckeyes managed to tie the score once more, but McKendree would reclaim the lead off an Ohio State service error, followed by a Buckeyes attack error, putting the Bearcats up two at 23-21. The Bearcats reached set point off a kill from Flayter and took the set off an attack error by Ohio State.
Set two was a gritty, relentless display of McKendree's defense. The Bearcats earned the first point of the second set of a Lively kill and held on to the lead until 8-8 when the Buckeyes found themselves on a run of three points to take the lead for the first time in the set. McKendree did not allow for the Buckeyes to hold the lead for long, going on a five-point run at 11-12, highlighted by a kill from Hoskin and two service aces from Flayter, to place the lead back into the Bearcats' hands. Ohio State immediately had an answer in a run of six points to put the Buckeyes up three points. McKendree would go on a run of three points to take a one-point lead at 21-20 with a three-point run composed of a block from Wetjen, a kill from graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp, and a block from Tripp and Lively. From there, the score was back-and-forth well past the 25 mark. Neither team allowed the other to gain any momentum until the Bearcats ended the set on a three-point run, highlighted by a kill from Lively and a kill from Hoskin, which put the Bearcats up 2-0 in the match.
In a must-win set for the Buckeyes, McKendree continued to show their resilience. The Bearcats claimed the lead early at 3-2, thanks to a kill from Hoskin. Ohio State managed to place the lead in their hands with back-to-back points, but the Bearcats had an automatic answer with a four-point run that was all Wetjen. A Wetjen kill started the run, and with Wetjen behind the service line, he served three aces in a row. The Buckeyes would quickly go on their own four-point run to reclaim the lead at 10-11. With back-to-back points from a Hoskin's kill and a block from Wetjen and redshirt sophomore
Will Klimek, McKendree was able to take the lead back. From there, there were 10 ties and six lead changes to close out the set. With all the back-and-forth play, the Bearcats managed to fight off Ohio State and close the set and match with back-to-back points, with Hoksin closing it out with a service ace.
Wetjen led the offense, notching 13 kills, followed by Hoksin with 11 kills. Lively joined in with eight kills on 13 swings with no errors, hitting at a .615 percent. Flayter tallied 34 assists, setting up the offensive success. McKendree served a total of 10 aces, with Flayter serving five, Wetjen adding three, and Lively and Hoskin each serving one.
Defensively, Flayter led the backcourt with 13 digs, recording his eighth double-double of the season. With his 10th dig of the match, Flayter reached the 500 career dig mark. Wetjen and Hoskin combined for 12 digs, picking up six each. Tripp and graduate libero Yadial Diaz combined for 10 digs, picking up five each. At the net, the Bearcats notched eight total blocks (2 BS, 12 BA).
UP NEXT: McKendree returns home for a Tuesday, 3/10, match against non-MIVA Belmont Abbey at 7 PM, followed by a Friday, 3/13, match against Lindenwood at 6 PM.
Make sure to keep up with McKendree University Men's Volleyball on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. #MIVA | #D1mvb
For more updates and information on Bearcat Athletics, please continue to visit McKBearcats.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.
#BearcatsUnleashed
