(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 2)—The McKendree University volleyball team earned a split Friday on the first day of the Puma Invitational at Renssalaer, Ind. The Bearcats rallied to defeat Cedarville University in the first match of the day, three sets to two, before being swept by host Saint Joseph's College in the nightcap.
McKendree, which collected its first win of the 2011 season with the comeback against Cedarville, will take a 1-2 overall record into Saturday's action at the Puma Invitational. The Bearcats will take on Franklin Pierce University in the first match of the day at 9 a.m. before meeting up with Notre Dame College (Ohio) at 1 p.m.
Against Cedarville, McKendree found itself down two sets to one against the Yellow Jackets. The Bearcats dominated the fourth set to force a deciding contest. In the fifth set, McKendree battled its way to a 16-14 win to grab its first win of the year. The Bearcats took the contest by scores of 18-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-16 and 16-14.
Senior right-side hitter Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) (Collinsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) led the charge for McKendree with 11 kills. Senior right-side hitter Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) chipped in with seven kills, while senior hitter Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) added six attacks.
Freshman setter Maggie Mueller (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell Central) (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) distributed 12 assists as senior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) was next with 10 sets. Junior outside hitter Laura Payne (Rockville, IN/Rockville) (Rockville, Ind./Rockville) posted a team-high eight digs, while freshman middle hitter Hilary Richter (Troy, IL/Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) had four blocks for McKendree.
The Bearcats met Saint Joseph's in the final match of the day. The Pumas cruised to victory in the first two sets, but McKendree hung close in the third set. But Saint Joseph's proved to be too much and put away the final contest to win the match by scores of 25-18, 25-13 and 25-22.
Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) and Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) each registered six kills in the match to lead the way for McKendree. Freshman middle hitter Trina Issak (Highland, Ill./Highland) added four attacks and a team-best three blocks, while senior right-side hitter Lauren Richter (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) also had four kills in the effort for the Bearcats.
Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) handed out 11 assists, with Maggie Mueller (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell Central) just behind with 10 sets. Senior libero Savannah Jarvis (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) collected a team-high eight digs against Saint Joseph's.
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
FRIDAY, SEPT. 2, 2011
AT PUMA INVITATIONAL – RENSSALAER, IND.
Team 1 2 3 4 5
McKENDREE 18 25 22 25 16
Cedarville 25 18 25 16 14
Team 1 2 3
Saint Joseph's 25 25 25
McKENDREE 18 13 22
McKendree is now 1-2 on the season
