Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 12)—The McKendree University volleyball team posted its first victory as an NCAA Division II member over a nationally-ranked opponent with a thrilling five-set win Saturday afternoon at home over the University of Indianapolis. The Bearcats took down the No. 25-ranked Greyhounds by scores of 29-27, 16-25, 13-25, 26-24 and 15-12 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.

Senior outside hitter Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) and sophomore right-side hitter Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) registered 10 kills apiece in leading the charge for McKendree. Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) chipped in with nine attacks, while sophomore middle hitter Rachel Nelson (Papillion, NE/Papillion-LaVista South) came off the bench to add eight kills and a pair of blocks for the Bearcats.

Senior libero Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) handled a season-high 39 digs in the effort, while Nesbit posted 21 digs and freshman setter Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) added 13. Howe also led the Bearcats with 21 assists while freshman setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) handed out 19 sets.

McKendree is now 5-13 overall and 3-6 in the GLVC. The Bearcats will be on the road for their next six matches, beginning with a Friday contest at Bellarmine University.

Saturday's match marked the third time in the last five days – and the second straight day – that McKendree played a five-set match on its home floor. Through its first six home contests of 2013, the Bearcats have gone the distance in four.

In the first set, McKendree sprinted to a 7-2 lead before Indianapolis 11-6, 7-2 GLVC) chipped away at the deficit and pulled even for the first time at 9-9. The teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the set, with the largest lead coming at 18-15 for the Greyhounds. Indianapolis was serving for the set at 27-26 when the Bearcats were able to reel off the final three points to grab the contest.

Indianapolis dominated the next two sets to grab a 2-1 lead in the match. It appeared that the Greyhounds were on their way to the win for most of the fourth set, leading by as many as six points at 15-9. McKendree clawed back and finally pulled even at 22-22 thanks to a 5-2 run. Indianapolis fought back and was serving for match point at 24-23 when a service error and attack error by the Greyhounds suddenly swung the score in favor of McKendree at 25-24. Voss finished off the comeback with a service ace to force the fifth and deciding set.

The teams traded leads in the early stages of the fifth set when McKendree scored three consecutive points to grab a 9-8 advantage. Indianapolis was able to tie the score and the teams continued to trade points. With the Greyhounds holding a 12 11 lead, the Bearcats took control. Consecutive kills from Wessel started a match-ending run of four consecutive points. Nelson added another attack to give McKendree a 14-12 lead, and an attack error from Indianapolis sent the Bearcats onto the court in celebration of the upset win.

Kenzie Bruggeman had a match-high 13 kills along with 20 digs to lead Indianapolis. Brittany Anglemyer added 12 attacks, while Meghan Binkerd posted 53 assists and Alyssa Garrett handled 27 digs from the back row for the Greyhounds.