(SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 11)—The McKendree College volleyball team suffered a 3-1 American Midwest Conference defeat Wednesday evening at the University of Illinois-Springfield. The Prairie Stars took the match by scores of 30-19, 30-28, 25-30 and 31-29.

 

The loss sends the Bearcats to 16-11 overall and 5-3 in AMC play. Illinois-Springfield improves to 14-12 on the year. The Prairie Stars are now tied with McKendree in the conference standings at 5-3.

 

Senior outside hitter Codi Dempster (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) led McKendree with 17 kills and 16 digs, while freshman outside hitter Lisa Witte (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) added 15 kills. Senior right-side hitter Colleen Crider (Mt. Vernon, Mo./Mt. Vernon) (Mt. Vernon, Mo./Mt. Vernon) chipped in with 13 attacks.

 

Junior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) had a team-high 39 assists, and she matched Dempster with 16 digs.

 

McKendree will be in Hannibal, Mo., on Saturday for a tri-match at Hannibal-LaGrange College. The Bearcats will face the host Trojans at 11 a.m. before taking on Culver-Stockton College in a non-conference match at 1 p.m.

 

 

Illinois-Springfield        30         30         25         31

McKendree                    19         28         30         29