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(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 11)--The McKendree University continues its three-match home stand by hosting two more Great Lakes Valley Conference opponents Friday and Saturday at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats will take on Saint Joseph's College Friday at 7 p.m. before meeting the University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

McKendree kicked off its home stand Tuesday night with a thrilling five-set victory over the University of Illinois Springfield. After dropping the first set, McKendree dominated the next two by 25-15 scores to build a 2-1 lead in the set. The Prairie Stars rallied to win set four and force a fifth and deciding set. UIS was two points from victory before McKendree reeled off the final five points to win the set 15-13 and take the match.

Freshman Bailey Kampwerth (Breese, IL/Mater Dei), who leads McKendree with 150 kills, put down a season-high 19 attacks in the UIS win. Sophomore Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) collected 15 kills and five blocks, while freshman Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) notched 14 kills and four blocks in the win. Senior Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) handled a team-best 26 digs, while Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) handed out 18 assists in the effort.

Sophomore Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) joins Kampwerth as the only McKendree players with more than 100 kills this season. Wessel has put down 113 attacks in 2013. Wessel also leads the Bearcats with 11 service aces. Freshman Rebecca Nauman (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville) has handed out a team-leading 262 assists, while Kelly ranks among GLVC leaders with 287 digs. Fairman paces the squad with 42 blocks, including eight solos.

On Friday, McKendree will face an opponent it swept twice during the 2012 season. Saint Joseph's comes to Lebanon with a 4-12 overall record and a 1-6 mark in GLVC play. The Pumas are led offensively by senior Katherine Brown, who has 133 kills on the year. Sophomore Erin Hyland has posted 116 kills along with 47 blocks and 29 digs for Saint Joseph's.

Friday's match will also serve as McKendree's annual "Kill for the Cure" Night, where the Bearcats will honor breast cancer survivors and hold special fundraisers, with all proceeds going to the Side-Out Foundation in the fight against the disease.

Saturday's opponent -- the University of Indianapolis -- is currently just one game off the pace in the GLVC East Division at 6-1. The Greyhounds, ranked No. 25 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, are 10-5 overall and have won their last six matches entering the weekend. Sophomore Hailey Brown leads the way for Indianapolis with 187 kills, which is an average of just over three attacks per set. Brown also has 172 digs, 21 blocks and eight service aces. The Greyhounds defeated the Bearcats twice in 2012, with Indianapolis needing four sets to take down McKendree at the Statham Center a year ago.

Following the match against Indianapolis, McKendree will be on the road for its next six matches, including three at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge set for Oct. 25-26 in Aurora, Ill.