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Three senior starters will be back at McKendree in 2021.
Coach Nickie Sanlin informed Off the Block that middle attackers Wyatt Dimke and Lucas Galifos along with opposite Zach Schnittker have opted to return for next season.
The NCAA granted men’s volleyball players an additional year of eligibility after the remainder of the 2020 season was canceled in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. This eligible ruling, which applied to all student-athletes in spring sports, resulted in seniors being able to return for the 2021 season.
Dimke was third in the MIVA and 12th in the nation with a .411 attack percentage last season, including having six kills and zero errors while hitting .667 in an upset victory against the defending MIVA champions Lewis. The First-Team All-MIVA selection also was eighth in the conference averaging 0.92 blocks per game and had more than five blocks in five matches.
Galifos finished the shortened 2020 season with a .386 attack percentage and had a season-high 13 kills while hitting .524 in a conference victory against Quincy. In addition, the second-year starter was in the MIVA’s top 15 with a 0.83 blocks per game average.
Schnittker in 2020 was in the MIVA’s top 25 averaging both 2.21 kills per game and 1.44 digs per game. Among his top performances that season was having 13 kills and 11 digs in a four-game road victory versus Purdue Fort Wayne.
McKendree a year removed from reaching the MIVA Tournament semifinals was tied for third place in the conference at the time the 2020 season was canceled. The Bearcats also were ranked No. 4 in the Off the Block/Frisco Mo Division II National Coaches Poll.