LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team fell short to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday in a five set thrilling battle.
The Buckeyes drew first, taking the first set 25-22. The Bearcats responded, taking the second set 25-23 and evening the match at one set apiece. Ohio State came out on top of set three 27-25, going up two sets to one, going into the fourth set. McKendree had another response, forcing a fifth set by winning set four 25-21. The fifth and final set came down to the wire, with the Buckeyes having the edge and taking the set and match 15-13.
Set one started with Ohio State striking first with a kill, giving the Buckeyes the first point of the match. The Bearcats would go on an early run of four points, highlighted by an ace from junior setter
Nate Flayter and kills from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen and redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin, to take a 5-3 lead. With back-to-back points, the Buckeyes were able to bring the score back to a tie at 6-6. McKendree managed to hold onto the lead until 9-10 when an Ohio State service ace gave the Buckeyes a one-point advantage. Another ace from Ohio State would extend their lead to two points at 12-14. A kill from graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp would even the score at 16-16. After a Bearcats' service error, followed by a Buckeyes' service ace, Ohio State would find themselves back up two points at 16-18. From there, the Buckeyes clinched down on the lead and did not let it up. McKendree would make a push with a run of three points, highlighted by a kill from Tripp, but it was not enough. Ohio State would end the set with back-to-back kills.
McKendree would open the second set with a 5-1 run, highlighted by a kill and an ace from Tripp, followed by kills from Wetjen and Hoskin. The Bearcats held onto the lead until back-to-back errors tied the score at 15-15. A service error by the Buckeyes would give the advantage back to McKendree, but not for long. Back-to-back kills from Ohio State would give the Buckeyes their first lead of the set. An ace from redshirt sophomore outside hitter
Boone Felts would put the Bearcats back up by one-point. Wetjen would go off, notching a kill, followed by an ace to give McKendree a two-point advantage late in the set at 20-18. Back-to-back attack errors by the Bearcats would tie the score at 21-21. A kill from senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively would place McKendree back up one-point, but Ohio State would even the score once more. A kill from Hoskin would give the Bearcats a two-point lead and set point. The Buckeyes would record a kill, fighting off set point once, but a kill from Wetjen would end the set and even the match score at 1-1.
The Bearcats would quickly find themselves on a 13-5 run, highlighted by kills from Wetjen, Tripp, and Lively, an ace from Hoskin and Lively, and blocks from Lively, Tripp, and Flayter, to take a six-point lead early in the third set. The Buckeyes would answer with a three-point run, but back-to-back kills from Wetjen would put McKendree back up five points. Down five points at 20-15, Ohio State would go on a four-point run to bring the set within one-point. After fighting off two set points, the Buckeyes managed to tie the score at 24-24. A kill from Wetjen would give the Bearcats their third set point. Ohio State would fight it off once more, ending the set on a run of three points and taking a 2-1 advantage on the match.
Coming into the fourth set hot was McKendree with a 5-1 run, highlighted by kills from Lively and Hoskin. After a bunch of back-and-forth play, the Buckeyes were able to knot the score at 12-12. The Bearcats would respond with a 4-1 run, composed of back-to-back kills from Wetjen and Tripp, to put McKendree back up three points. Ohio State would bring the score within one-point off a Buckeyes kill, but the Bearcats would not let up. McKendree ended the set on a three-point run, with a kill from Flayter ending the set and forcing a fifth.
McKendree drew first in the fifth set, with Tripp recording an ace. The Buckeyes and the Bearcats traded points back and forth for the majority of what made up the thrilling fifth set. Ohio State managed to score back-to-back points three times compared to McKendree's one stint of back-to-back points, which was what gave the Buckeyes the edge in the short set. An Ohio State kill would give the Buckeyes their first set point at 12-14. The Bearcats would fight off set point once with a kill from Tripp, but another kill from Ohio State would end the set and the match in the Buckeyes' favor.
Wetjen led McKendree's offensive charge with 20 kills and a .452 hitting percentage, followed by Tripp with 17 kills and a .355 hitting percentage. Lively tallied eight kills while hitting at a .800. Flayter notched 47 assists and added four kills, leading the Bearcats to an average .339 hitting percentage.
Flayter led the back court with 14 digs, recording his 10th double-double of the season (47 assists, 14 digs), followed by Hoskin with 10 digs, recording his 2nd double-double of the season (10 kills, 10 digs). Graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz added seven digs to the defensive show McKendree put on. At the net, the Bearcats totaled 10 blocks (3 BS, 14 BA). Lively had a dominant presence, tallying 3.5 total blocks (2 BS, 3 BA). Redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Will Klimek followed with 2.5 total blocks (1 BS, 3 BA).
UP NEXT: McKendree is back at the MPCC on Saturday, Apr. 11, to take on Northern Kentucky at 2 PM for Senior/Alumni Day.
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