Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 22)—The McKendree University volleyball team rallied late to win a five-set match at home over Maryville University Sunday at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats won the match by scores of 25-14, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25 and 23-21.

Freshman outside hitter Bailey Kampwerth (Breese, IL/Mater Dei) put down three consecutive kills to help McKendree avoid the match loss and propel the Bearcats to the come-from-behind win. The victory helped McKendree secure its first Great Lakes Valley Conference triumph of the year. The Bearcats are now 2-8 overall and 1-1 in GLVC play. McKendree will be on the road Saturday at Quincy University for another GLVC match-up.

Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) led the way for McKendree in the victory over Maryville with a season-high 16 kills while adding 11 digs. Kampwerth and sophomore right-side hitter Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) each connected for 14 attacks. Freshman setter Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) handed out a season-best 32 assists while chipping in 16 digs. Senior Maddie Kelly (Lake Saint Louis, MO/Timberland) led five players with double-digit digs for the Bearcats with 35.

A back-and-forth five and deciding set saw the two teams separated by no more than two points at any stretch in the contest. McKendree was able to stave off four match points by the visiting Saints before winning two straight rallies to grab an 18-17 advantage. Maryville then turned the tables with back-to-back points to regain a 21-20 lead.

Kampwerth then began her game-ending run with a kill to tie the match one final time at 21-21. Kampwerth then gave McKendree the lead for good at 22-21 before the last of her three straight kills sealed the rally and sent the Bearcats into a celebration near the net. All three kills were set up on passes by Howe.

In the first set, McKendree broke open a close contest with an 8-2 run to build an 18-10 lead. Voss registered two kills during the stretch for the Bearcats. Junior outside hitter Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) closed out the set with one of her nine kills to give McKendree a 25-14 triumph.

Maryville (5-8, 0-3 GLVC) battled back to take the second set at 25-21. McKendree responded by winning the first six points of the third set and never looked back in taking a 25-17 decision. The Bearcats' lead grew to as many as 11 points in the set before the Saint made a late run, using a 7-1 run to pull within 22-16.

In the fourth set, McKendree forged a 10-9 lead when the Saints ripped off six consecutive points to build a 15-10 advantage. The Bearcats answered back and tied the set at 18-18, with back-to-back kills from freshman middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) helping McKendree pull even. But Maryville scored the next three points and never relinquished the lead again.

Laura Welling had a team-high 16 kills to lead Maryville, while Hannah Seitter added a match-high 37 assists. Ali Lampen handled 36 digs from the back row for the Saints.