CHICAGO, Ill. – McKendree's men's volleyball team fell to the ninth ranked Ramblers of Loyola Chicago this evening in three sets. The final sets scores were 17-25, 15-25, 19-25.
In set one, the Bearcats found themselves trailing Loyola early after the Ramblers went on a three-point run to take the lead at 5-2. McKendree and Loyola would trade points back and forth, with the Ramblers eventually going on a 9-2 run to extend their lead to nine points. With the score at 17-8, graduate outside hitter
Tyler Tripp would momentarily end Loyola's momentum with a kill. The Ramblers would soon find themselves on another run of three points, taking a 10-point lead late in the set at 22-12. The hole the Bearcats were in was ultimately too much to overcome. Back-to-back service errors by McKendree would give Loyola set point and then the set, placing the Ramblers up 1-0 on the match.
Loyola came into the second set with all the momentum on their side of the net. The Ramblers started set two with a three-point run, shortly followed by another run of three points to place Loyola up 8-4 early. The Bearcats would keep the score within three points, but a run of four points by the Ramblers would give Loyola a seven-point lead. McKendree would manage to stay within five points, but at 20-15, the Ramblers would go on a five-point run, made up of four Bearcat attack errors, to end the set and take a 2-0 lead on the match.
Similar to set two, Loyola jumped out to a three-point run to start a must-win third set for McKendree. The Bearcats would trade points back and forth with the Ramblers until Loyola would find themselves on another run of three points, leaving the score at 12-5. McKendree would attempt to claw their way back into the set, in hopes of keeping the match alive, with a three-point run at 20-13 to cut their deficit to four points. Ultimately, it was too much for the Bearcats to overcome. The Ramblers would end the set and the match with a block, in a dominating performance on their home court.
Junior setter
Nate Flayter dished out 20 assists, leading McKendree's offense to a .164 hitting efficiency. Tripp had the hot hand in tonight's match, notching nine kills with a .368 hitting efficiency. Tripp was followed by senior opposite
Bryce Wetjen with seven kills.
Defensively, Flayter and graduate libero
Yadiel Diaz led the back court with five digs each. Wetjen followed with three digs. At the net, the Bearcats tallied a total of four blocks (1 BS, 3 BA), with redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Will Klimek leading the charge with two (1 BS, 1 BA).
UP NEXT: McKendree will head to Lewis to close out the weekend with some more MIVA action. The Bearcats will take on the Flyers on Saturday, Apr. 4, at 5 PM.
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