(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 29)—The McKendree University volleyball team took one of two matches Friday on the first day of the McKendree Invitational, which is being held at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon.
The Bearcats dropped a four-set decision to Grand View University in the opener before outlasting Central Methodist University in the fifth and deciding set in the last contest of the day. The split gives McKendree an overall record of 23-9. The Bearcats will play two more matches Saturday on the final day of the McKendree Invitational, taking on Iowa Wesleyan College at noon before wrapping up the weekend with Lindenwood University at 4 p.m.
In the first contest, McKendree found itself in a two-set hole before rallying to win the third set. However, the visiting Vikings pulled away in the fourth set to take the match by scores of 25-18, 25-22, 20-25 and 25-19.
Junior right-side hitter Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) led the offensive surge for McKendree with 11 kills, while senior outside hitter Tara Ryterski (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) added 10 kills. Senior middle hitter Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) chipped in with eight kills and a team-leading five blocks, and junior right-side hitter Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) connected for seven attacks.
Senior setter Alyssa Speckhals (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) handed out a team-high 19 assists, while junior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) was close behind with 16 sets. Speckhals also led McKendree with 15 digs as senior libero Lindsey Gray (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon) (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon) added 14 digs.
Against Central Methodist, McKendree found itself trailing after the third set. But the Bearcats put together a rally, winning the fourth set before reeling off the final four points of the fifth and deciding set to steal the contest. McKendree won by scores of 20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21 and 17-15.
Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) paced the Bearcats with 18 kills while adding six blocks. Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) added 14 kills and a team-best seven blocks, while Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) registered 10 attacks and Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) had nine. Alyssa Speckhals (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) contributed 26 assists with Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) notching 24 sets. Lindsey Gray (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon) handled a match-high 24 digs for McKendree.
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
FRIDAY, OCT. 29 AT LEBANON, IL
Team 1 2 3 4
Grand View 25 25 20 25
McKENDREE 18 22 25 19
Team 1 2 3 4 5
McKENDREE 20 25 23 25 17
Central Methodist 25 21 25 21 15
McKendree is now 23-9 overall
