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(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 1)--The McKendree University volleyball team will take to the court for the first time in a week this weekend as the Bearcats will host a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference match-ups. McKendree will square off against Drury University Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center before taking on MIssouri S & T to wrap up the weekend Sunday at 1 p.m.

McKendree last took to the volleyball court on Saturday in its final match at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge in Aurora, Ill. The Bearcats swept past Walsh University to close out a successful weekend, winning two of their three matches in a two-day span. The wins helped the Bearcats improve to 8-16 on the year. Beginning with Saturday's match versus Drury, McKendree will play its final seven regular-season matches against GLVC foes. The Bearcats are 3-8 in league play this season.

Senior libero Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) had a big week last week as she collected honors at the Crossover Challenge and from the GLVC. Kelly posted 68 digs in three matches to earn a spot on the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge All-Tournament Team. She is the first McKendree player to receive the honor. Thanks in part to her effort in Aurora, Kelly was selected as the GLVC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. It is the first time this season -- and second time in her career -- that Kelly was recognized by the league. 

Freshman outside hitter Bailey Kampwerth (Breese, IL/Mater Dei) continues to lead a balanced offensive attack for McKendree. Kampwerth has a team-leading 217 kills, while she is third in blocks with 33 (four solos). Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) is next with 167 attacks, followed closely by senior outside hitter Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) in third with 160. Nesbit is second on the team with 264 digs, which is topped only by Kelly's 515. 

Head coach Lisa Orlet has relied on a trio of freshmen setters for passing duties and has received strong efforts from all three. Rebecca Nauman (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville) leads the group with 328 assists, while Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) has 297 and Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) has handed out 233. 

ABOUT DRURY: The Panthers bring a 12-12 overall record and 5-6 GLVC mark to Lebanon for the match on Saturday. Like McKendree, Drury went 2-1 in the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge. Junior Sara Borneman paces the offensive attack for the Panthers with 311 kills, averaging 3.4 per set. Borneman is also tied for second on the squad with 18 service aces. Freshman Brooke Antenen has handed out 646 assists, while fellow freshman Bridget Justis leads the way for Drury with 439 digs. Sophomore Laynie Timmons has put down a team-best 71 blocks, with 23 solos for the Panthers. 

McKendree and Drury have not met on the volleyball court since the 2011 season. On Oct, 3, 2011 at the Statham Center, the Panthers swept the Bearcats by a 3-0 margin. 

ABOUT MISSOURI S & T: The Miners enter the weekend at 12-12 on the season and 7-4 in the GLVC. The team dropped all three of its contests at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge. Missouri S & T will have a match at the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday before coming to Lebanon. Krista Haslag tops the squad with 212 kills, followed closely by Hayley Wright with 202. Haslag ranks second in the GLVC in blocks with 121, a total that includes 21 solos. Wright has served up 25 aces this season, which leads the way for the Miners. Allie Plunk has 706 assists to her credit, and Cydney Denning anchors the back row with 291 digs. 

It has been two years since the Bearcats and Miners faced off on the volleyball court. On Sept. 28, 2011 in Rolla, Mo., Missouri S & T defeated McKendree in four sets. 

Following this weekend's matches, McKendree will have just two regular-season contests left at the Statham Center in 2013: Nov. 15 against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Nov. 16 versus Lewis University.