BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Benedict College men's volleyball team opened the 2026 season on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision to Lees-McRae College.
 
Lees-McRae (3-6 overall) won the match 25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-12.
 
The Bobcats hit .448 in the first set, recording 15 kills. The Tigers tied the match by taking the second set as they pulled away by scoring three of the final five points in the set. Camron Petillo scored a kill for the set winner.
 
Lees-McRae jumped out to an early 13-6 lead in the third set. Benedict got within 20-17, but the Bobcats scored the next three points, all on Benedict errors, and went on for the 25-20 victory. Lees-McRae had a 7-6 lead in the fourth set, but the Bobcats scored 13 of the next 16 points for a 20-9 lead and went on to claim the match.
 
Petillo led the Tigers with 11 kills. Mallik Foreman added eight kills and had a team-high nine digs. Kaden Hoyte had 20 assists.
 
Benedict (0-1 overall) returns to action on Thursday, taking on Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. at 6 p.m.