(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 16)—Playing in front of its largest home crowd of the season, the McKendree University volleyball team posted an American Midwest Conference victory Thursday evening against Missouri Baptist University. The Bearcats were defeated 25-20 in the first set, but rallied to take the final three sets and the match, 25-20, 25-18 and 25-17.
The win comes just two nights after a 3-1 setback on the road at Williams Baptist College. McKendree moves back to the .500 mark on the year at 12-12, while the Bearcats are now 7-4 in AMC play.
“In Wednesday's practice, we took a step back and looked at the big picture,” said McKendree volleyball coach Evelyn Bean. “They decided to relax and were determined to play point-for-point. Once we got in the flow of the match, I think that really helped us tonight.”
McKendree hosted “Dig for the Cure” Night at the Melvin Price Convocation Center on Thursday. The volleyball program had special “Dig Pink” t-shirts printed up for sale to the fans in attendance. There were also special raffles held throughout the match, along with the junior varsity contest that preceded the varsity match. Numerous local businesses donated prizes to be used in the raffles.
The proceeds from t-shirt sales and raffles will benefit the Komen for the Cure Foundation, which aids in the fight against breast cancer. October has been designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“This was really a special night for us,” said Bean. “We had a great crowd and they really supported this initiative from the time we announced it. There were a lot of pink t-shirts in the crowd and the fans really got behind our players. This is a cause we have wanted to support, and we're proud to be a part of it tonight.”
Senior right-side hitter Lindsay Amerson (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) led the way for McKendree with 11 kills, while senior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) chipped in with 10 kills and four blocks. Junior outside hitter Dani Collins (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) had half of her eight kills in the final set, when McKendree pulled away for the win.
Senior setter Dana Maedge (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) dished out a team-best 25 assists, and junior outside hitter Andrea Lucas (Festus, Mo./Festus) (Festus, Mo./Festus) registered 15 digs to lead the Bearcats.
After Missouri Baptist took the first set, McKendree's offense began to come to life. The Bearcats built an early 7-4 lead in the second set. The Spartans rallied to grab an 11-9 lead before McKendree responded with five of the next six points to regain a 14-12 advantage. The teams continued to trade points before a block winner by Kombrink sparked a run of three consecutive points to give McKendree a 23-18 lead, and Kombrink finished out the set moments later with a kill.
The Bearcats continued to set the pace in the third set, taking a 14-8 leading by scoring four of five points in one stretch. Missouri Baptist reeled off three straight points before a kill by Kombrink ended the spurt. McKendree led by as many as seven points in the set, and an attack by sophomore middle hitter Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) gave McKendree a 2-1 lead in the match.
Junior right-side hitter Kristina Paisley (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault) (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault) recorded back-to-back service aces early in the fourth set to help McKendree out to a 5-1 lead. Missouri Baptist trimmed the margin to 5-3 before Collins helped the Bearcats take control. She had two kills in the next four McKendree points to extend the lead out to 9-3. Collins also added two more attacks later in the set as the Bearcats built a nine-point cushion in the later stages of the set.
Megan Moore had a team-high 15 kills, while Lindsay Vlassos and Brittany Lukasek each posted 14 attacks for Missouri Baptist, which slips to 14-13 overall and 9-3 in the AMC.
Thursday's win also gives McKendree a regular-season split against Missouri Baptist. The Spartans won the first 2008 meeting between the two teams back on Sept. 18 in St. Louis, three sets to one.
McKendree will return to action Saturday with a tri-match on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. The Bearcats will take on St. Ambrose University at noon before meeting Madonna University at 2 p.m.
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULT
THURSDAY, OCT. 16 AT LEBANON, ILL.
Teams 1 2 3 4
McKendree 20 25 25 25
Missouri Baptist 25 20 18 17
McKendree is now 12-12 overall and 7-4 in the American Midwest Conference
Missouri Baptist is now 14-13 overall and 9-3 in the American Midwest Conference
-McK-
