LEBANON, Ill. – Wrapping up a challenging three-match road trip in the state of Illinois, the Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball team suffered its third-straight setback to a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opponent Sunday afternoon in Lebanon. Entertaining a grueling schedule to begin their 2021 campaign and playing their third road match in three days, the Railsplitters (1-3) were handed a straight-set loss by McKendree University inside the Melvin Price Convocation Center.
 
Held to a .110 attack percentage for the match, LMU committed 22 attack errors and could not overcome early trouble in the first two sets. Despite a much closer third set, the host Bearcats (1-0) benefited from 14 kills and created separation late.
 
Behind a .225 attack and 34 kills across the three sets, McKendree used a dominant second set, imposing its will with a .320 hitting mark and 12 kills. The Railsplitters collected just one service aces in the affair, were limited to 31 kills and faced a 13-8 deficit on the block.
 
Hindered by eight attack errors in the opening set, LMU was unable to sustain an early lead as both teams swung at only .130. A block by senior middle hitter Pedro Carvalho and sophomore setter Ryan Foy gave the Railsplitters a 6-4 advantage before the Bearcats won five of the next six points to go up 9-7. An 8-2 McKendree run gave the hosts a commanding 19-12 lead and moments later the Bearcats went ahead 23-15 on an ace. LMU tried its best to stage a comeback with a kill from sophomore outside hitter Johansen Negron, a block by freshman right side hitter Justin Sharfenaker and sophomore middle/right side hitter Dawson Walker, and another block from Walker and Negron, but it was too little too late. Following back-to-back kills from Walker, McKendree closed out the set at 25-20.
 
Committing seven attack errors and making just seven kills for a .000 attack percentage, the Railsplitters never recovered from the Bearcats' offensive onslaught in the second set. McKendree won the first eight points of the second set and extended its lead to 17-5 before LMU responded. Trailing 23-10, the Railsplitters scored four consecutive points as Sharfenaker laid down a kill and Negron recorded LMU's lone ace of the day. However, the Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the match and finished the set at 25-14 on a Railsplitter attack error.
 
LMU had its best offensive performance in the third set with 13 kills on a .167 attack but it wasn't nearly enough as McKendree hit .212. Down 15-11, the Railsplitters got blocks from Walker, junior outside hitter Logan Kerley, Sharfenaker and Carvalho, in addition to a Carvalho kill, to get within one before knotting things up at 17 with back-to-back Carvalho kills. The Bearcats went on to win three of the ensuing four points to take a 20-18 lead but LMU would not go away. A kill from Sharfenaker made it 20-19 and the two teams split the next four points. After McKendree went up 23-21 on a kill, Negron earned what would be the Railsplitters' final point of the day to get LMU back within one. The Bearcats then ended the match at 25-22 with a kill and a Railsplitter attack error.
 
Sharfenaker once again led the way for the Railsplitters with 10 kills and a career-high five blocks, while Carvalho finished with seven kills off an impressive .875 attack. Walker totaled six kills and a team-high six blocks as Negron and junior libero Matt Bridenbaugh claimed five digs each. Junior setter AJ Risavy handed out 19 assists.
 
Patrick Ross led McKendree with 10 kills and five blocks and the Bearcats got eight kills and six digs from Zach Schnittker. McKendree's Lucas Galifos registered six kills and a match-high 10 blocks and Ryan Serrano assisted on 30 of the Bearcats' 34 kills while also serving a pair of aces.
 
Up Next…
LMU returns to match action next Thursday and Friday, Jan. 28-29 when the Railsplitters continue their stretch of contests against MIVA opponents and visit receiving-votes Ball State. Taking on the Cardinals in a pair of matches on consecutive days, LMU faces Ball State at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 with first serve from inside Worthen Arena slated for 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter volleyball throughout the 2021 season.