Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 8)—The McKendree University volleyball team collected its second Great Lakes Valley Conference win of the season, holding off the University of Illinois Springfield in five sets Tuesday night at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats scored the last five points in the fifth set to win the match by scores of 29-31, 25-15, 25-15, 22-25 and 15-13.

Freshman outside hitter Bailey Kampwerth (Breese, IL/Mater Dei) put down a season-high 19 kills to lead four Bearcats reaching double figures in attacks. Sophomore middle hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) added 15 kills and a team-high five blocks, while freshman middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) chipped in with 14 attacks and four blocks. Senior outside hitter Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) also hit double-digits in kills with 12.

McKendree improves to 4-12 on the year and 2-5 in the GLVC East Division. The Bearcats will continue its three-match home stand Friday night with another conference battle against Saint Joseph's College. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.

Five different McKendree players notched double figures in digs, led by senior libero Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) with 26. Nesbit handled 17 while Kampwerth was right behind with 16. Freshman setters Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) and Rebecca Nauman (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville) each posted a double-double, with Howe contributing team-best 18 assists along with 13 digs while Nauman had 16 assists and 11 digs.

The first set saw 19 ties as the largest lead for either team came with McKendree serving for set point at 24-21. Illinois Springfield (4-10, 2-5 GLVC East Division) rallied to score the next four points to grab a 25-24 advantage. A kill from Kampwerth quickly tied the match at 25-25, and the teams traded points until the Prairie Stars were able to scratch out the final two points to win the marathon set.

Kampwerth and Fairman dominated the second set to help McKendree knot the contest at a set apiece. Fairman put down six kills while Kampwerth added five as the Bearcats led the majority of the set. Illinois Springfield pulled even at 7-7 before a kill from Fairman gave McKendree the lead for good. The Bearcats closed the set strong, using a 12-3 burst to finish off the 25-15 win.

McKendree held a slight 9-8 lead in the third set before a kill from Nesbit sparked a run of eight consecutive points to help the Bearcat stretch the margin to 17-8. McKendree slowed pulled away to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Bearcats rolled to a 5-0 lead in set four, but the Prairie Stars quickly battled back to tie the contest at 9-9. The set remained tight until a 6-1 spurt gave UIS a 20-16 lead it would not relinquish to force the deciding set.

In the fifth set, McKendree led in the early stages before Illinois Springfield knotted the contest at 7-7. The Bearcats scored three of the next four points – two on kills by Nesbit – to build a 10-8 cushion. The Prairie Stars responded by reeling off the next five points to grab a 13-10 lead.

A kill from Nesbit started the final decisive run for McKendree. Fairman and Kampwerth each followed with a successful attack to tie the contest one final time at 13-13. A pair of attack errors from the Prairie Stars finished off the comeback for the Bearcats.

Kellee Mahaffay had a team-leading 19 kills for UIS, while JoAnna Hoffman handed out a match-high 41 assists for the Prairie Stars. Kayle Katarzynski handled 35 digs in the back row for Illinois Springfield.

The teams will meet once more in the regular season, on Nov. 12 in Springfield, Ill.