LIVE STATS

(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 21)--After opening the season with 11 consecutive matches away from home, the McKendree University volleyball team will finally get enjoy the friendly confines of the Melvin Price Convocation Center this weekend.

The Bearcats will kick off the home portion of the 2012 schedule with matches Friday night against the University of Indianapolis and Saturday afternoon versus Saint Joseph's College. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, followed by a 3 p.m. start on Saturday.

McKendree enters the weekend with an overall record of 5-6. The Bearcats are 1-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action, with their first league victory coming in a five-set thriller last Saturday at Kentucky Wesleyan College. McKendree rallied from a 2-1 deficit to take the final two sets in that match to register the win. The Bearcats started the season by falling in four matches at the Days Inn/Bulldog Invitational at Truman State University before bouncing back in impressive fashion. McKendree won all four of its matches the following weekend to claim the championship of the Arkansas Tech University Spikefest. Freshman Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) put down 56 kills to earn the tournament's Most Valuable Player award, and was joined on the All-Tournament team by junior Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West), who registered 184 sets in the four wins.

The University of Indianapolis will bring a 9-2 overall record and perfect 3-0 GLVC slate into Friday's match. The Greyhounds are ranked No. 9 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, which was released earlier in the week. This will mark the first meeting on the volleyball court between the Bearcats and Greyhounds.

Saint Joseph's is 3-9 on the year and 0-3 in the GLVC prior to Friday's match at Bellarmine College. McKendree and Saint Joseph's met last season in Renssalaer, Ind., during the Saint Joseph's Invitationals, with the Pumas winning in straight sets, 3-0.

Following this weekend's GLVC contests, McKendree will wrap up its three-match homestand by stepping out of conference to take on Missouri Baptist University on Tuesday (Sept. 25) at 7 p.m.