Box Score (LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 18)—Playing in the last contest in a season-opening 11-match road trip, the McKendree University volleyball team was defeated in four sets on Tuesday at Bellarmine University. After winning the first set, the Bearcats lost the final three to drop the match. The host Knights won by scores of 18-25, 25-22, 25-13 and 25-12.
McKendree is now 5-6 overall and 1-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats will make their 2012 home debut Friday evening against the University of Indianapolis. The Greyhounds are ranked No. 9 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. Friday's match is set for a 7 p.m. first serve at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.
At Bellarmine, junior outside hitter
Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) led a balanced attack for McKendree with nine kills. Freshmen
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) and
Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) each connected for eight kills in the effort. Junior setter
Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handed out a team-best 34 assists, while junior libero
Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) registered 11 digs. Freshman outside hitter
Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) had a match-high five blocks for the Bearcats.
In the first set, McKendree took an early 10-5 lead thanks in part of a 6-1 run. Later in the set, a pair of kills by Wessel and freshman right-side hitter
Rachel Nelson (Papillion, NE/Papillion-LaVista South) gave the Bearcats a 19-11 lead. McKendree stretched the margin to as many as nine points before cruising to the first-set victory.
Bellarmine (5-2, 2-1 GLVC) rebounded by scratching out a three-point victory in the second set to even the match at 1-1. The Knights then took control in the last two sets, winning each set by double digits to pull away for the win.
Friday's match with Indianapolis begins a three-match home stand for McKendree. On Saturday, the Bearcats will host Saint Joseph's College in a GLVC contest that begins at 3 p.m. McKendree will step out of conference to host Missouri Baptist University Tuesday at 7 p.m.
