Benedictine University will have a men's volleyball team compete for the first time in school history on Friday. The Eagles will head north to Milwaukee to take on two Wisconsin schools in a tri-match, opposing Cardinal Stritch University at 6:00 p.m. and host Milwaukee School of Engineering at 8:00 p.m.
  
Cardinal Stritch represents a tough opponent for BenU in its first match as a program, as the Wolves have been one of the NAIA's top program in recent seasons. The Wolves have finished above .500 in each season since 2010 and have accumulated a 105-67 (.610) record over that span. Competing in the Great Lakes Conference, Cardinal Stritch won the GLC Regular Season championship last season, finishing with a 18-12 overall record and 9-1 in GLC play.
 
While the team returns just one starter from last season, junior libero Patrick Ronan (59 assists, 2.67 digs/set last season), the Wolves are receiving national attention. Cardinal Stritch is ranked tenth in the initial NAIA Men's Volleyball preseason poll. Joining Ronan are five sophomores, three juniors, and four newcomers after graduating six seniors.
  
Friday will be the first of four meetings between the Eagles and MSOE this season. The Raiders and Eagles both belong to the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League and will square-off in two non-conference and two MCVL contests. Friday's contest will not count in the MCVL standings.
 
MSOE is also in its early stages as a program, as the Raiders began competing in men's volleyball in 2013. Members of the Continental Volleyball Conference, MSOE complied an 11-38 overall and 3-13 conference record over the past two seasons. The Raiders carry a 24 man roster: 11 freshmen, five sophomores, six juniors, and two seniors.