EVANGEL BOX SCORE

ST. FRANCIS BOX SCORE

(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Sept. 30)—The McKendree University volleyball team opened play at the Lindenwood University Invitational with a pair of losses on Friday evening. The Bearcats were swept in both contests, falling to Evangel University in the opener before the University of St. Francis (Ill.) outlasted McKendree in the nightcap.
 
McKendree will take a 4-14 record into its final two matches of the Lindenwood Invitational on Saturday. The Bearcats will meet host Lindenwood University at noon before wrapping up their tournament stay by facing Union University at 2 p.m.
 
In Friday's first match, McKendree and Evangel battled down to the wire in the first set, with the Crusaders eventually pulling out a 26-24 win. That win sparked Evangel as it cruised to victory in the final two sets to grab the sweep, 25-9 and 25-11.
 
Senior outside hitter Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) led the balanced attack for McKendree with eight kills. Senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) (Collinsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) connected for six attacks, while senior hitter Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) was right behind with five kills. Senior setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) handed out 15 assists, with freshman setter Maggie Mueller (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell Central) (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) helped out with 11 assists.
 
Junior defensive specialist Laura Payne (Rockville, IN/Rockville) (Rockville, Ind./Rockville) led the back row for the Bearcats with 11 digs.
 
McKendree closed out the evening with a match with the University of St. Francis. This match nearly mirrored the first contest, where the Bearcats and Fighting Saints played a tight first set, with St. Francis pulling out the 25-23 win. The Fighting Saints went on to hold off the Bearcats in the final two sets to post the win, 25-18 and 25-14.
 
Melinda Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) led the Bearcats with seven kills, while Nadia Moore (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) chipped in with six attacks. Bayer also registered a match-high five blocks. Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, IL/Triad) dished out 22 assists, while Laura Payne (Rockville, IN/Rockville) and senior libero Savannah Jarvis (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) handled eight digs each.
 
McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
FRIDAY, SEPT. 30, 2011
AT ST. CHARLES, MO.
 
Team                              1           2           3
Evangel                         26         25         25
McKendree                   24         9          11
 
Team                              1            2           3
St. Francis (Ill.)              25         25         25
McKendree                    23         18         14
 
McKendree is now 4-14 on the season