(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 20)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Truman State University Sunday afternoon in East Peoria, IL at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships. The Bearcats fell by scores of 28-26, 25-17, and 25-19.

The loss moves McKendree to 23-10 on the season and the Bearcats await a potential NCAA Tournament selection after starting the weekend ranked ninth in the Midwest Region. The NCAA selection show airs Monday evening on NCAA.com.

The Bearcats were paced by junior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) who tagged a match high 14 kills to go with eight digs and one block. Senior outside hitter Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) paired nine kills with five digs, and senior middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) posted seven kills and two blocks.

Sophomore setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) dealt out a team high 17 assists and senior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) added 16 helpers for the Bearcats. Junior right side Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) put down five kills, and senior defensive specialist Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) and freshman libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) combined for 19 digs from the back row for McKendree.

The Bearcats used a strong start in the first set as Fairman and Schneider posted two kills each as part of a 4-0 run that gave McKendree an early 8-4 lead and forced a timeout from the Bulldogs. The Bearcats stayed hot with a 4-1 run that featured kills from Williams, Geiger, and junior middle blocker Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) to move McKendree in front 16-9. The Bearcats continued to roll with a kill from Geiger and an ace from senior defensive specialist Rebecca Nauman (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville) to push the lead to 18-10. Truman stormed back with six straight points that included back to back aces to pull within two before using another 6-0 run to take a 22-21 lead. McKendree rallied to tie the set at 24 on kills from Fairman and Williams, but the Bulldogs forced set point again at 26-25. Williams brought the Bearcats back with another kills, but Truman tallied the final two points of the set to take the first set from McKendree.

The Bulldogs continued to roll in the second set taking an early 5-2 lead. The Bearcats battled back with a 3-0 run to tie the set at 6-6 with kills from Schneider and Williams, but a 5-2 spree from Truman put the Bulldogs back on top. Truman used a 3-0 run to move ahead 16-12 and outscored the McKendree 9-3 down the stretch to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.

The Bearcats fought back in the third set as Williams, Lorenz, Fairman, and Schneider each put down a kill to give McKendree a 7-4 lead. The Bearcats held steady at 11-8 after Williams and Fairman each added another kill along with a score from Melchert. McKendree extended the lead to 13-8 after a service error from the Bulldogs and an ace from Nauman. Truman countered with four of the next five points to trim the lead to 14-12 before scorching a 9-0 run to take a 21-15 lead. Williams, Lorenz and Geiger each scored kills, but it was not enough to overcome the Bulldogs as Truman clinched the match with a six point win in the third and final set.