Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 13)—The McKendree University volleyball team posted a 1-1 record on the final day of the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge in Aurora, Ill., on Saturday. The Bearcats opened the day with a come-from-behind, five-set victory over Walsh University before falling to Malone University in the final match of the day.
 
More importantly, the split gave McKendree a 2-1 overall record on the weekend and helped the Great Lakes Valley Conference to its third consecutive Crossover Challenge title. The 16 GLVC teams entered in the two-day tournament combined to defeat the GLIAC schools by a margin of 28-20. McKendree was one of 10 GLVC schools that won at least two matches on the weekend.
 
The Bearcats will take a 9-13 overall record back into GLVC play on Friday at the University of Illinois Springfield. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
 
Junior outside hitter Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) had a big offensive day for McKendree. Nesbit put down 35 kills between the two contests, including 19 in the victory over Walsh. Freshman middle hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) added 24 kills on the day, while freshman right-side hitter Rachel Nelson (Papillion, NE/Papillion-LaVista South) and freshman outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) each finished with 21 attacks.
 
For the second time this season, junior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handed out an even 100 assists over a two-match span in a tournament, which included a season-high 61 assists against Walsh. Junior libero Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) collected 43 digs on the day, with 26 coming versus Walsh.
 
Against Walsh, McKendree overcame a 2-1 deficit with a fourth-set rally before taking control in the fifth and deciding set. The Bearcats posted the win over the Cavaliers by scores of 22-25, 25-8, 21-25, 25-20 and 15-10.
 
In the fourth set, McKendree trailed 6-3 in the early stages before scratching back to even the contest at 11-11. The teams traded points before the Bearcats a kill by Nesbit followed by a Wessel attack gave McKendree the lead for good at 15-13. Walsh rallied to within one point on three different occasions, but the Bearcats managed to hang on and force the deciding set.
 
McKendree scored seven of the first eight points in the final set and never looked back, holding off a late challenge from the Cavaliers.
 
In the final match against Malone, the Bearcats and Pioneers split the first two matches. Malone then battled past McKendree to take the final two sets and the match. The Pioneers recorded the win by scores of 25-22, 21-25, 26-24 and 25-21.
 
The Bearcats' lone set victory over Malone came in the second set. McKendree roared to an 8-3 lead, using a 6-0 run in the process. Four different players had a kill during the spurt for the Bearcats. McKendree was able to maintain its advantage but recording its best hitting percentage of any set at .382. The Bearcats registered just three hitting errors while knotting the match at 1-1.
 
From there Malone was able to hold McKendree at bay. The third set featured 11 ties and four lead changes. The Bearcats did have a chance to serve for the set at 24-23, but a kill by Lauren Townley sparked a 3-0 run for the Pioneers to close the set.
 
The fourth set was nearly as close with nine ties and four lead changes. The teams were separated by no more than two points for the majority of the set until the Pioneers once again reeled off the final three points to seal the victory.