(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Oct. 6)—The McKendree University volleyball team took one of two matches on the final day of play at the Lindenwood University Classic in St. Charles, Mo. The Bearcats needed four games to dispatch Benedictine College before dropping a close, five-game decision to Evangel University.

 

The win in Saturday’s first match snapped the Bearcats’ three-match losing streak. McKendree will take a 16-6 record into an American Midwest Conference match Tuesday at Hannibal-LaGrange College. Match time is set for 7 p.m.

 

Sophomore outside hitter Lisa Witte (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) was big factor in McKendree’s 26-30, 30-26, 30-26 and 30-21 victory against Benedictine. Witte led the Bearcats with 17 kills and 18 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Dani Collins (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) chipped in with 12 kills, while junior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) added five blocks. Senior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) dished out 19 assists, while junior setter Dana Maedge (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) was right behind with 17 assists.

 

 Senior libero Courtney Aldridge (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) handled 17 digs, and DeGroot notched 16 digs in the winning effort.

 

McKendree and Evangel traded wins in the first four games of Saturday’s final match before the Crusaders were able to forge ahead and take the deciding game. Evangel won by scores of 28-30, 30-21, 30-32, 30-21 and 15-12.

 

Once again, Witte paced the Bearcats with 17 kills while adding 22 digs. Kombrink collected 14 kills, and Collins chipped in with 12 attacks. Aldridge posted a team-leading 27 digs and DeGroot had 31 assists.

 

 

McKendree        26         30         30         30

Benedictine       30         26         26         21

 

Evangel              28         30         30         30         15

McKendree        30         21         32         21         12

 

McKendree is now 16-6 overall