Box Score (ST. CHARLES, Mo., Oct. 2)—The McKendree University volleyball team was defeated in five sets on Tuesday at Lindenwood University. The Bearcats were defeated by scores of 25-23, 13-25, 27-29, 25-14 and 10-15.
McKendree and Lindenwood were meeting for the second time this season, and it is also the second time that the teams went to a fifth set. The Bearcats slipped past the Lions back on Sept. 8 in Russellville, Ark., at the Arkansas Tech Spikefest.
Tuesday's loss gives McKendree a 6-11 overall record. The Bearcats will return to Great Lakes Valley Conference action Saturday when they host Maryville University at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
At Lindenwood, junior outside hitter
Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) posted a match-high 19 kills to lead the way for McKendree. Freshman middle hitter
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) chipped in with 17 kills and four kills, including a pair of solos. Freshman outside hitter
Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) connected for 10 kills in the contest for the Bearcats. Junior setter
Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) registered a double-double with 51 assists and 10 digs. Junior libero
Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) handed a team-leading 20 digs for McKendree.
The match was close throughout, with 18 ties and 10 leads changes. McKendree hit well in both of its set victories, posting a .370 hitting percentage in both the first and fourth sets. After dropping a 29-27 decision in the third set to fall behind two sets to one, the Bearcats raced to a 10-3 lead in the fourth set. Five different players had at least one kill for McKendree during its opening run.
McKendree was able to coast to victory in the fourth set to force the deciding contest. Lindenwood grabbed the early momentum until a kill by Wessel helped the Bearcats rally within 7-5. That was the closest McKendree would come the remainder of the set as the Lions scored five of the next seven points to pull away for good.
Kelsey Kennedy led a balanced attack for Lindenwood with 17 kills. The Lions move to 9-7 on the season.
