LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team closes out regular season play with a 3-1 win over the Northern Kentucky Norse on Saturday for Senior Day.
The Bearcats struck first, taking the first set 25-19. The Norse were able to even the match score at one set apiece after taking set two 25-21. McKendree had an answer taking sets three and four both at 25-22.
Set one and the match was opened with a block from senior middle blocker
Rolen Lively and redshirt senior outside hitter
Sam Hoskin. The Bearcats quickly grabbed a three-point lead after back-to-back kills from senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen and a kill from redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Will Klimek. The Norse immediately responded with their own run of three points to even the score at 6-6. McKendree would answer with a run of four points, kick-started by a Northern Kentucky service error and followed up with kills from Lively, graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp, and Wetjen. The Bearcats would extend to an eight-point lead after going on another four-point run, highlighted by a kill from Lively, a block from Lively and junior setter
Nate Flayter, and an ace from Wetjen, leaving the score at 21-13. The Norse would make a late push, going on a run of three points to close the deficit to five points at 23-18. A service error by Northern Kentucky would give McKendree set point, and a kill from Wetjen would put the Bearcats up 1-0 on the match.
The Norse went on an early run of three points in the second set to pull ahead of the Bearcats at 3-6. Northern Kentucky led as much as four points until going on a run of three points to take a six-point lead at 18-12 Norse. McKendree answered with their own run of three points, highlighted by a kill from Wetjen and an ace from redshirt sophomore outside hitter
Boone Felts, to close the deficit, but the Norse went back up six points after another run of three points. The Bearcats would cut the deficit to two points at 22-20 after a three-point run highlighted by a Lively kill. Northern Kentucky would end the set off back-to-back points, evening the match score at 1-1.
McKendree played the beginning of the third set trailing the Norse. After the score was 1-1, Northern Kentucky grabbed the lead after back-to-back points and led as much as four points at 10-6. The Bearcats would erupt with a 6-1 run, highlighted by kills from Wetjen, Flayter, and Hoskin and an ace from Lively, to take the lead at 12-11. The Norse took the lead back at 15-13 after back-to-back kills. McKendree proved persistent, going on a three-point run to re-take a one-point lead. Northern Kentucky continued to push in many attempts to regain control of the set, but the Bearcats remained unfazed. McKendree would end the set off back-to-back points, with a kill from Wetjen reaching set point and a block from Wetjen and Lively putting the Bearcats up 2-1 on the match.
Jumping out to a four-point run to start the fourth set was McKendree, highlighted by kills from Tripp, Wetjen, and Flayter. Northern Kentucky would immediately answer with a six-point run, making the Bearcats' early lead short-lived as the Norse took a one-point lead at 6-5. Northern Kentucky would extend their lead to four points after a four-point run, leaving the score at 11-7. McKendree would eventually find themselves back in control with a three-point lead after going on a five-point run, highlighted by kills from Tripp, Wetjen, and Hoskin and an ace from Hoskin, leaving the score at 19-16. The Norse would not go quietly, evening the score at 22-22 thanks to a Northern Kentucky kill and ace. The Bearcats remained undaunted, ending the set and match on a run of three points. A kill from Hoskin gave McKendree match point, and a block from Hoskin and Klimek finished the match, making the Bearcats successful on Senior Day.
Wetjen notched a match-high of 21 kills while hitting at a .234 percent. Lively and Tripp added 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Flayter dished out 48 assists, leading McKendree's offense to a 59 kill performance, hitting at an average .293 percent. The Bearcats served a total of seven aces, with Wetjen grabbing three and Hoskin with two.
Graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz recorded a season and match-high of 15 digs. Flayter added 10 digs, while Tripp and Hoskin each contributed six digs in McKendree's dominant defensive performance. At the net, the Bearcats tallied six total blocks (1 BS, 10 BA). Klimek led with two total blocks (1 BS, 2 BA).
UP NEXT: McKendree is headed to postseason play! As the fourth ranked team, the Bearcats are hosting the fifth ranked Ohio State for the MIVA quarterfinals round next weekend, Apr. 18, at the MPCC. Stay tuned for updates on the match time.
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
