(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 9)—The McKendree University volleyball team wrapped up its first day of action at the Seaside Invitational in San Diego, Calif., with a three-set loss to Biola University on Friday evening. The Bearcats lost by scores of 25-10, 25-14 and 25-23.
With the loss, McKendree drops to 2-6 on the season. The Bearcats will return to action Saturday at the Seaside Invitational with two more matches, beginning with a 1 p.m. PT contest against Vanguard University. McKendree will end its tournament stay at 7 p.m. against California State University-San Marcos.
The entire 12-team event is being held on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
Against Biola, senior right-side hitter Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) (Collinsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) paced the offensive attack for the Bearcats with seven kills. Senior hitter Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) connected for six kills, while freshman middle hitter Trina Isaak (Highland, IL/Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) registered five blocks in the match.
Senior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) distributed a match-high 19 assists in the effort for McKendree, while senior libero Savannah Jarvis (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) collected a team-best seven digs.
Biola, the No. 12-ranked team in the NAIA, cruised to victory in the first two sets before McKendree roared out of the gates to start the third set. The Bearcats jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the set, and eventually stretched the margin to 19-13 following a kill by Kollmann. At that point, the Eagles ripped off seven of the next eight points to tie the contest at 20-20.
The teams battled back and forth, with McKendree grabbing its final lead of the set at 23-22 on a kill by Isaak off a pass from Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad). But Biola took command of the match from there, scoring the final three points to finish off the sweep.
Rachel Buckley led a balanced attack for Biola with nine kills, while Chelsee Arnitz and Christine Douglas each connected for eight attacks in the match.
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
FRIDAY, SEPT. 9, 2011
AT SEASIDE INVITATIONAL – SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
Team 1 2 3
Biola 25 25 25
McKendree 10 14 23
McKendree is now 2-6 on the season
