SPALDING BOX

GREENVILLE BOX

(GREENVILLE, Ill., Oct. 8)—The McKendree University volleyball team took one of two matches on Saturday in a tri-match at Greenville College. The Bearcats battled past Spalding University in the opener before dropping the second contest against host Greenville.
 
The split leaves the Bearcats with an overall record of 6-18. McKendree will be at home on Wednesday to play host to Lindenwood University in a match beginning at 7 p.m. It will also be “Dig Pink” Night at McKendree, and the Bearcat volleyball program will be selling limited edition t-shirts and also asking for donations in the fight against breast cancer.
 
Senior outside hitter Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) and freshman middle hitter Hilary Richter (Troy, IL/Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) each had a big day on the court for McKendree. Moore registered 11 kills in each match, while Richter chipped in with 19 total kills on the day along with 15 blocks.
 
Against Spalding, McKendree split the first two sets with the Eagles. The Bearcats then battled to a hard-fought win in the third set before holding off Spalding in the fourth and final contest. McKendree took the match by scores of 25-15, 23-25, 26-24 and 25-21.
 
Spalding took an early 6-2 lead in the third set before McKendree rallied. The Bearcats scored seven of the next nine points to grab a 9-8 lead. The teams traded points and leads before the Eagles built a three-point advantage on four different occasions in the set.
 
McKendree trailed 23-21 before a kill by freshman outside hitter Erica Johnson (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) sparked the Bearcats to a game-ending 5-1 run that enabled them to escape with the set. McKendree led for all but one point in the fourth set, but needed a run of four consecutive points to wrap up the set and the match.
 
Moore was the only McKendree player to post double-digit totals in kills with 11. Richter and senior hitter Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) each had eight attacks. Richter had nine blocks as freshman middle hitter Trina Isaak (Highland, IL/Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) notched five.
 
Senior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) handed out 26 assists for the Bearcats, while Johnson and senior libero Savannah Jarvis (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) registered 11 digs apiece.
 
In the Greenville match, McKendree led two sets to one, but ran out of gas as the Panthers rallied to edge the Bearcats in the fourth set before rolling to a decisive victory in the final set. Greenville won by scores of 25-22, 18-25, 21-25, 25-23 and 15-4.
 
Moore and Richter each collected a team-high 11 kills against Greenville, while Johnson was right behind with 10 attacks. Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) notched 35 assists in the effort, while Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) posted a match-high nine blocks along with senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) (Collinsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran).
 
Johnson had a team-best 13 digs, with Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) adding 11. Jarvis and Richter each notched 10 digs against Greenville.
 
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
SATURDAY, OCT. 8 AT GREENVILLE, ILL.
 
Team                              1            2           3           4
McKENDREE                25         23         26         25
Spalding                        15         25         24         21
 
Team                              1            2           3           4            5
Greenville                      25         18         21         25         15
McKENDREE                22         25         25         23         4