(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 1)—The McKendree University volleyball team posted victories at home on Saturday against Robert Morris College and Spalding University to open the 2007 season. The Bearcats swept a best-of-five contest against Robert Morris before going the distance against Spalding, taking the final game 15-11.

 

McKendree will take a 2-0 record into Wednesday’s non-conference match against Webster University. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

 

Against Robert Morris, McKendree jumped out to big leads in each of the first two games before Robert Morris forged an early advantage in game three. The Bearcats eventually grabbed the lead midway through the game, and a run of nine straight points propelled McKendree to a 30-13, 30-14 and 30-18 victory.

 

Junior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) and sophomore outside hitter Lisa Witte (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) each led a balanced attack with eight kills each. Kombrink also contributed four blocks, while senior middle hitter Angie Clark (Charleston, Mo./Charleston) (Charleston, Mo./Charleston) had a team-best five blocks. Senior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) dished out 15 assists, and senior defensive specialist Courtney Aldridge (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) collected a team-best nine digs.

 

Spalding won the first game before McKendree rallied to take the second and third contests. The Bearcats were just two points away from taking the match in four games before the Golden Eagles scored the last nine points of the match to force a fifth and deciding game.

 

McKendree raced to an 8-2 lead in game five and held off a comeback bid from Spalding to win the match by scores of 22-30, 30-21, 31-29, 28-30 and 15-11.

 

Sophomore outside hitter Dani Collins (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) led the offensive surge for McKendree with 12 kills, while Kombrink posted 11 attacks. DeGroot had 24 assists, and junior setter Dana Maedge (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) was next with 19 assists. Aldridge handled a team-leading 29 digs.

 

 

McKendree         30         30         30

Robert Morris     13         14         18

 

McKendree        22         30         31         28         15

Spalding            30         21         29         30         11

 

McKendree is 2-0 overall.