(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 11)—The McKendree University volleyball team continued its perfect start to the 2007 season Tuesday with a match victory at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Ark. The Bearcats dropped the first game, 29-31, before bouncing back to take the final three games and the match, 30-15, 30-19 and 30-20.

 

By winning its American Midwest Conference opener, McKendree pushed its overall record to 8-0. The Bearcats will return home Thursday to host Hannibal-LaGrange College in an AMC match beginning at 7 p.m.

 

At Williams Baptist, sophomore outside hitter Dani Collins (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) led McKendree with 15 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Lisa Witte (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) contributed 10 attacks. Senior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) handed out a team-leading 23 assists against the Eagles, and senior libero Courtney Aldridge (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) chipped in with 23 digs.

 

Sophomore outside hitter Brittany Schrage (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) connected for four service aces as junior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) posted three aces and a team-high seven blocks.

 

Williams Baptist suffered its first loss of the season, dropping to 5-1 overall and 0-1 in the AMC.

 

 

McKendree                    29         30         30         30

Williams Baptist           31         15         19         20

 

McKendree is now 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the American Midwest Conference