(COLUMBIA, Mo., Sept. 26)—The McKendree College volleyball team was defeated for the first time in American Midwest Conference play this season Tuesday at Columbia College. The Cougars took the best-of-five match by scores of 30-18, 30-26 and 30-23.

 

McKendree and Columbia entered the match as the only two undefeated teams remaining in AMC play. The Bearcats fall to 10-6 on the year and 4-1 in the AMC, while Columbia takes over first place in the league standings. The Cougars, ranked No. 7 in the latest NAIA poll, moves to 18-3 overall and 4-0 in the conference.

 

Senior outside hitter Codi Dempster (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) paced McKendree with 12 kills and 11 digs. Junior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) added a team-best 30 assists and two service aces.

 

Rael Rotich had a team-high 14 kills for Columbia, while Yi Zhang posted 11 attacks. Luana Branco handed out 28 assists for the Cougars.

 

The Bearcats will return to action Friday and Saturday when they host the McKendree Invitational. The tournament will take place in the intramural center of the Melvin Price Convocation Center. Also competing in the five-team eavent will be Trevecca Nazarene University, Brescia University, Spalding University and Fontbonne University.

 

 

 

Columbia           30         30         30

McKendree        18         26         23

 

McKendree is now 10-6 overall and 4-1 in the American Midwest Conference