Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 12)—Junior outside hitter Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) put down a match-high 14 kills and added four aces in leading the McKendree University volleyball team to a four-set victory over Lake Erie College in day one action Friday at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge in Aurora, Ill. McKendree won by scores of 19-25, 25-15, 25-11 and 25-11.
 
The Bearcats improved to 8-12 on the year, and will wrap up tournament play on Saturday with two more matches against opponents from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. McKendree will meet Walsh University in the first contest of the day at 10 a.m. before taking on Malone University at 4 p.m.
 
Freshman outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) connected for 12 kills to help McKendree in the victory. Freshman right-side hitter Rachel Nelson (Papillion, NE/Papillion-LaVista South) and junior middle hitter Mel Duncan each chipped in with eight attacks. Nelson matched Nesbit with four aces on the day. Junior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) notched 41 assists along with 10 digs for the Bearcats. Junior libero Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) handled a match-high 17 digs, and junior hitter Meghan Dohogne (Cape Girardeau, MO/Notre Dame Regional) posted 13 digs in the effort.
 
After dropping the first set to the Storm, McKendree roared back and dominated the final three sets. The Bearcats trailed just once over the final three sets, with the deficit coming as Lake Erie scored the first three points of the third set. In the second set, McKendree raced to a 4-1 lead, then used a 9-1 run to break open a close contest and take a 22-13 advantage. The Bearcats overcame their 3-0 deficit in set three by reeling off nine consecutive points to build a 9-3 lead. McKendree eventually stretched the margin to 22-9 in coasting to a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
McKendree then scored eight of the first nine points of the fourth set to take command. Nelson then helped the Bearcats close out the victory in style, registering three of her four service aces during the final four points of the match.
 
Lake Erie (3-13) was paced by Molly Richardson, who had 10 kills. Samantha Knepley added 22 assists for the Storm.