Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 16)—The late-season playoff push for the McKendree University volleyball squad came up just a bit short in the Bearcats' season finale Saturday at home against Lewis University. McKendree's 2013 season came to an end with a five-set loss to the visiting Flyers on Senior Day at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. Lewis won the marathon match by scores of 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-25 and 15-11.
 
Despite winning eight of its final 11 matches of the year, McKendree finished just one game short of a trip to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in the Bearcats' first year of NCAA Division II post-season eligibility. McKendree closes the year with an overall record of 13-18 and an 8-10 mark in league play.
 
Senior outside hitter Maureen Nesbit (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) closed out her career in style by leading McKendree with 17 kills. Nesbit also collected 23 digs against Lewis. Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) added 12 attacks, while freshman middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) notched nine kills. Sophomore middle hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) contributed eight attacks and a team-leading four blocks.
 
Senior libero Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) handled a team-high 24 digs in the match for McKendree. Kelly compiled 1,271 career digs in just two seasons with the Bearcats. Kelly is third on McKendree's career list for digs. Her 654 digs this season is fourth on the team's single-season list.
 
Freshman setter Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) handed out a team-leading 29 assists against Lewis, while freshman setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) posted 16 sets.
 
There were 12 ties and three lead changes in the first set. McKendree was able to grab the final lead late in the first set and used a kill by Nesbit to take an early lead over Lewis. The second set played out in similar fashion with six ties. The Flyers used a pair of service aces from Nicole Yuede to spark a run of three consecutive points to help Lewis build a 14-11 advantage. McKendree battled back to within 17-16, but Lewis scored three of the next four points to take control on its way to knotting the match at a set apiece.
 
A close third set saw McKendree take a 23-22 lead following a kill by Wessel off a pass from Howe. The Flyers registered a block on the next point to tie the contest, and a pair of kills from Cassidy Parsons finished off the win to give Lewis a 2-1 set advantage over the Bearcats. In the fourth set, McKendree used an 8-1 run to take an 18-14 lead. The Bearcats were able to hold off the Flyers to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Playing in its ninth five-set match of the year – and sixth at home – McKendree got off to a slow start in its final set of the year. Lewis jumped out to an 8-2 lead before the Bearcats got on track. McKendree scored five consecutive points to rally within 11-9. The Flyers edged back out to a 13-9 advantage before a kill from Nesbit and a Lewis attack error helped the Bearcats rally back within 13-11. But the Flyers were able to collect the final two points to escape with the win.
 
McKendree and Lewis (23-8, 16-2 GLVC) played five sets in both of their matches in 2013. The Flyers had to rally from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Bearcats back on Oct. 4 in Romeoville, Ill.
 
Parsons finished with a match-high 21 kills for Lewis, while Alexis Davito added 20 attacks. Leigh Barea handed out 59 assists to lead all players.