(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 17)—The McKendree University volleyball team was handed a road loss on Wednesday at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The Bearcats were defeated by the Prairie Stars three sets to one, with UIS taking the match by scores of 25-13, 27-29, 25-12 and 25-20.
McKendree tumbles to 4-11 on the season. The Bearcats will have a week off before returning to the court Sept. 28 at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Match time is set for 5:30 p.m. in Rolla, Mo.
At Illinois Springfield, senior outside hitter Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) continued her solid play of late, leading the Bearcats with 11 kills. Senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) (Collinsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) added 10 attacks and 10 digs, while freshman middle hitter Hilary Richter (Troy, IL/Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) chipped in with eight kills and a team-best three assisted blocks.
Senior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) dished out a team-leading 32 assists, and senior libero Savannah Jarvis (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) handled 19 digs against the Prairie Stars.
Illinois Springfield (2-9) built a commanding 14-5 lead in the first set in cruising to the win. McKendree bounced back and tied the contest by winning a slugfest in the second set. The Prairie Stars threatened to take a 2-0 lead in the match, leading by four points on two different occasions. But the Bearcats rallied to grab a 24-23 lead following a pair of attack errors by UIS.
The host Prairie Stars quickly tied the match and the teams battled back and forth. With the score tied at 27-27, McKendree grabbed a one-point lead on a service error by UIS. Moore then finished off the set with a kill to even the match at 1-1.
In the third set, Illinois Springfield broke out quickly, scoring 11 of the first 14 points in rolling to the 25-12 win. UIS raced to another big lead in the fourth set before McKendree rallied one final time, pulling within 23-19 following a Moore kill and an attack error by the Prairie Stars. But UIS finished off the match by winning two of the next three points.
Sam Krilich paced Illinois Springfield with a match-high 18 kills, while Kellee Mahaffay added 14 attacks. Rebeka Pruemer handed out 44 assists for the Prairie Stars.
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2011
AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
Team 1 2 3 4
Illinois Springfield 25 27 25 25
McKENDREE 13 29 12 20
McKendree is now 4-11 on the season
