MVB Hits the Road For MIVA Quarterfinal Match Against No. 13 McKendree

GAME INFORMATION
WHEN: Saturday, April 10 | 8 p.m. ET
WHERE: Lebanon, Ill. | Harry M. Statham Sports Center
LIVE STATS: Stats
GLVCSN: Link
SERIES HISTORY: Purdue Fort Wayne leads 7-6
LAST MEETING: L, 3-0, (25-17, 23-22, 25-14) | March 28, 2021 | Fort Wayne, Ind.

KNOW YOUR FOE
No. 13 McKendree will take on the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in the MIVA Quarterfinals in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center on Saturday (April 10). The Bearcats are coming off of a 3-2 loss against the Ball State Cardinals. The Bearcats recorded 55 kills with a .138 hitting percentage, and led in service aces 6-3. Patrick Ross led No. 13 McKendree in kills with 12 and earned one service ace.

LAST TIME WITH NO. 13 MCKENDREE
The last time the Bearcats and Mastodons met was not too long ago on Sunday (March 28) where the Bearcats took home a 3-0 victory. Vicente Ibarra collected 20 kills and hit .256 and Sean Califf earned 27 assists with seven digs. Troy Gooch had a career-high 15 digs. Ibarra had Purdue Fort Wayne's only ace and the 'Dons hit .210 as a team compared to McKendree's .246. Two Bearcats had double-doubles, Diego Negron had 21 kills and 11 digs and Brian Schwob had 49 assists with 12 digs.

STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
After the 14 matches this season, Vicente Ibarra has already recorded 178 kills and is hitting .272. The Chile native had a successful weekend against Loyola Chicago despite the 'Dons falling 3-1. Ibarra had a career-high 24 kills on Friday (March 12). Most recently, Ibarra was named to the All-MIVA Second Team.

ALL-MIVA EVERYTHING
On Friday (April 9), the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced its All-MIVA Teams for the 2021 season. Purdue Fort Wayne had three Mastodon honorees as Pelegrin Vargas and Troy Gooch were selected for All-MIVA First Team and Vicente Ibarra was All-MIVA Second Team.

'DONS TURN 40!
The 2021 season will mark the Mastodons 40th season since becoming a varsity program at Purdue Fort Wayne. In 1978, Arnie Ball and three students jump started the program as a club team and it wasn't until 1981 when it became an official varsity team. Ball was not only the coach, but he was also the sport information director, administrator overseeing the athletic training staff and the intramural program as well the coach for the women's volleyball team. Within the span of 40 years, the Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball has earned five MIVA tournament titles, three regular season titles and tied for first five times and went to the NCAA tournament numerous times.

ELITE MASTODONS
The Mastodons have been stellar against opponents outside of the AVCA Top 15 Coaches Poll since April 1, 2017. The 'Dons are 43-10 against unranked teams
since that date.

BACK FOR MORE
Pelegrin Vargas and Richie Diedrich returned to Purdue Fort Wayne to finish out their senior season. The Mastodons have maintained almost all of their roster for the previous season as well as adding three new freshmen.

~Feel the Rumble~

MVB Hits the Road For MIVA Quarterfinal Match Against No. 13 McKendree

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Players Mentioned

Sean Califf

Richie Diedrich

Troy Gooch

Vicente Ibarra

Pelegrin Vargas

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics