(COLUMBIA, Mo., Sept. 15)—The McKendree University volleyball team opened American Midwest Conference play Wednesday with a three-set loss at Columbia College. The Bearcats were edged by scores of 25-20, 26-24 and 25-19.

The loss sends McKendree to an overall record of 6-5. After playing their first 11 matches of the season on the road, the Bearcats will open their home schedule Friday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center against Stephens College. Match time for the AMC tilt is set for 7 p.m.

At Columbia, McKendree battled toe-to-toe against the No. 8-ranked team in the NAIA. In fact, Wednesday's contest marked the first time all season that a Columbia foe pushed the Cougars past the regulation 25-point mark to win a set.

Junior right-side hitter Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) led the way for McKendree with eight kills, while senior middle hitter Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) chipped in with six attacks. Senior setter Alyssa Speckhals (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) and junior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) each had a team-best 12 assists as senior defensive specialist Lindsey Gray (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon) registered 14 digs for the Bearcats.

Vesna Trivunovic, the reigning AMC Volleyball Player of the Week, led Columbia with 19 kills while Paula Ferreira dished out 43 assists. The Cougars moved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the AMC.