(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 7)—The McKendree University volleyball team nearly overcame a two-sets-to-one deficit, but was defeated in the fifth and deciding set Tuesday at home by the University of Illinois at Springfield. The Prairie Stars won the match by scores of 15-25, 26-24, 26-24, 19-25 and 15-12.

The loss ends the Bearcats' American Midwest Conference winning streak at four matches. In addition, McKendree has lost its last five matches to slip to 10-11 overall. The Bearcats are now 5-3 in AMC action. McKendree will return to the court Friday for an AMC contest at Harris-Stowe State University. First serve is set for 5 p.m.

Senior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) registered a match-high 16 kills and eight blocks to lead the way for McKendree. Junior outside hitter Dani Collins (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) chipped in with 10 attacks and three solo blocks, while senior setter Dana Maedge (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) added a team-leading 17 digs. Maedge and freshman setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) each handed out 21 assists for the Bearcats.

McKendree dominated the first set, reeling off six consecutive points to pull out to a 20-12 lead. The Prairie Stars tried to battle back, but a kill by senior right-side hitter Lindsay Amerson (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) and a block by sophomore middle hitter Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) sparked a Bearcat run of four straight points to end the set.

The teams battled back and forth in the second set, and McKendree was on the brink of going up two sets when Amerson posted a block to give the Bearcats a 24-23 lead. However, Illinois-Springfield regrouped to win the final three points and steal the set away from McKendree. The Prairie Stars were on the verge of winning the third set when Brickey had a kill to bring McKendree within 24-23. But once again Illinois-Springfield held off the late Bearcats' threat and notched its second straight win of 26-24.

McKendree built a 15-9 lead in the fourth set when the Prairie Stars began to chip away at their deficit. UIS came within 20-18 before a kill by Amerson fueled a 5-1 spurt that allowed the Bearcats to even the match.

The Prairie Stars led the balance of the fifth and deciding set although McKendree pulled to within one point on three different occasions, the last coming at 11-10 on a block by Kombrink.

McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULT

TUESDAY, OCT. 7 AT LEBANON, ILL.

Team                            1          2          3           4           5

Illinois-Springfield          15         26         26         19         15

McKendree                   25         24         24         25         12

McKendree is 10-11 overall and 5-3 in the American Midwest Conference

Illinois-Springfield is 9-14 overall and 5-2 in the American Midwest Conference

-McK-