Friday, February 23
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
8-7,2-4MIVA
3
vs
1
McKendree
7-5,4-2MIVA
1
2
3
4
F
McKendree
20
24
26
23
1
Purdue Fort Wayne
25
26
24
25
3
Wilmer Hernandez, Mark Frazier
Photo by: Josh Gales
Hernandez and 'Dons Beat McKendree in Four Sets
2/23/2024 9:45:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Wilmer Hernandez dug out 19 attacks on Friday night (Feb. 23), helping Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball defend the Arnie Ball Court and taking down McKendree 3-1 (25-20, 26-24, 24-26, 25-23).
Hernandez' 19 digs is the most in a match since 2022 when Kade Bontrager reached the same total against McKendree in the MIVA Tournament. Hernandez is now tied with Bontrager with the ninth-most digs in a match in program history.
Jon Diedrich and Mark Frazier combined for 36 kills, over half of the team's 55 kills, while Andrej Polomac assisted on 44 of those kills. Bryce Walker added efficient attacking with nine kills on 16 attempts for a match-best percentage of .563.
Purdue Fort Wayne held McKendree to just seven kills in the first set. The 'Dons saw a two-point lead swell to nine with seven straight points that included back-to-back aces from Alex Melendez Watts. Diedrich delivered his team-high sixth kill to give the 'Dons the win in the opening set.
McKendree brought up set point in the second set as they took a 24-22 lead. But out of a timeout, the 'Dons forced two errors from McKendree with Frazier blocking the second attack to tie the score. Diedrich's ace gave the 'Dons the lead before Frazier hit his third kill of the set to steal the second set for Purdue Fort Wayne.
The script was flipped in the third set with the Mastodons having set point at 24-22, but McKendree battled back to tie and ultimately win the third set and force another set. Despite this, Hernandez had eight digs alone in set three. It was similar in the fourth set as Walker's kill brought up match point at 24-22, but Diedrich drove home his seventh kill of the set to bring the match to a close.
McKendree was led by 11 kills from Kevin Schuele. The Mastodons' 50 digs are the most since February 2023.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 8-7 and 2-4 in the MIVA. McKendree falls to 7-5 and 4-2 in the MIVA. The 'Dons host the second of two matches against McKendree on Saturday (Feb. 24) at 4 p.m.
Hernandez' 19 digs is the most in a match since 2022 when Kade Bontrager reached the same total against McKendree in the MIVA Tournament. Hernandez is now tied with Bontrager with the ninth-most digs in a match in program history.
Jon Diedrich and Mark Frazier combined for 36 kills, over half of the team's 55 kills, while Andrej Polomac assisted on 44 of those kills. Bryce Walker added efficient attacking with nine kills on 16 attempts for a match-best percentage of .563.
Purdue Fort Wayne held McKendree to just seven kills in the first set. The 'Dons saw a two-point lead swell to nine with seven straight points that included back-to-back aces from Alex Melendez Watts. Diedrich delivered his team-high sixth kill to give the 'Dons the win in the opening set.
McKendree brought up set point in the second set as they took a 24-22 lead. But out of a timeout, the 'Dons forced two errors from McKendree with Frazier blocking the second attack to tie the score. Diedrich's ace gave the 'Dons the lead before Frazier hit his third kill of the set to steal the second set for Purdue Fort Wayne.
The script was flipped in the third set with the Mastodons having set point at 24-22, but McKendree battled back to tie and ultimately win the third set and force another set. Despite this, Hernandez had eight digs alone in set three. It was similar in the fourth set as Walker's kill brought up match point at 24-22, but Diedrich drove home his seventh kill of the set to bring the match to a close.
McKendree was led by 11 kills from Kevin Schuele. The Mastodons' 50 digs are the most since February 2023.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 8-7 and 2-4 in the MIVA. McKendree falls to 7-5 and 4-2 in the MIVA. The 'Dons host the second of two matches against McKendree on Saturday (Feb. 24) at 4 p.m.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Team Stats
McK
Pur-FW
Kills
50
55
Errors
21
21
Attempts
129
138
Hitting %
.225
.246
Points
60.5
71.0
Assists
48
51
Aces
2
5
Blocks
8.5
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
5
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ Men's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
L/OH
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's VolleyballMB
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