LEBANON, Ill. – Quincy University's men's volleyball team took their second road trip in back-to-back weeks as they headed to #14 McKendree University on Thursday night. The Hawks took a set from the 14th-ranked Bearcats but ended up falling in four, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, and 22-25. 

1st Set
The Hawks had to play from behind early in set one after the Bearcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead. That lead soon grew to 9-2, but the Hawks later cut it to four points following a kill by Eddie Jakubauskas. Quincy trailed 12-8. Quincy narrowed the margin to 18-16 after a Michael Ladner kill and a McKendree attack error. A few points later, QU trailed by just one point, 19-18, behind another Jakubauskas kill and attacking error by the home squad. Both teams were then notched up at 20-20 and battled point-for-point over the next six points to make it 23-23. McKendree closed the door with the next two points to seal the win, 25-23.

2nd Set
QU started off set two by hanging right with the 14th-ranked Bearcats. The score was tied 4-4 early on behind kills by Nathan Lawton and Michael Ladner. The set was still tied at 10-10 when McKendree rattled off four straight points to gain a 14-10 advantage. That lead later grew to 18-12, and this was enough momentum for the home team to take set two by a final of 25-21. 

3rd Set
The Hawks avoided the straight set sweep with a tightly contested third set win. Both teams hit under .200 in set three and combined for a total of 19 errors as things started off with a 4-4 tie. After McKendree took a 6-4 lead, Quincy came back with five straight points to take a 9-6 lead. Kills by Jakubauskas, Andrea Miotto, and a service ace by Cooper Coleman led to the swing. QU kept the pressure on the Bearcats with another 3-1 mini run to gain a 12-7 advantage. The Hawks remained in command the rest of the way and took set three, 25-23. 

4th Set
McKendree's attack came alive in set four and led them to a set four victory. The Bearcats hit .483 with 18 kills in the set on 29 attempts with only four errors. Quincy fell behind 10-5 and had to play from behind the rest of the way. Ladner cut the score to 16-13 about midway through, but the Hawks could not find their way back in the lead. QU fell 25-22 in the fourth set. 

Stat Leaders
Michael Ladner – 17 kills, .308 pct
Yoran Raymaekers – 40 assists
Noam Hannoun – 15 digs

Next Up
The men's volleyball squad will get another crack at the ranked Bearcats tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. in Lebanon.