Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 10)—The McKendree University volleyball team dropped a four-set decision Friday night at home in Great Lakes Valley Conference play against the University of Southern Indiana. The visiting Screaming Eagles won by scores of 25-11, 21-25, 26-24 and 25-19.
The Bearcats lost for the second time in three days to fall to 9-8 overall and 6-4 in the GLVC. McKendree will look to bounce back into the win column Saturday afternoon in wrapping up a three-match home stand against Bellarmine University. First serve is set for 3 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
Friday night's contest also marked the Bearcats' annual Dig Pink match. The McKendree players and coaching staff honored the memory of those who have lost the battle to cancer, as well as to celebrate those who have won the battle, or continue to win the fight, against the deadly disease. More than 30 family members, McKendree faculty and staff, friends of the program and others were honored in a special ceremony between sets two and three.
Freshman outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) led the way offensively for McKendree with 13 kills and narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs. Sophomore middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) chipped in with 11 kills and three blocks, while junior right-side hitter
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) connected for eight attacks. Sophomore outside hitter
Bailey Kampwerth (Breese, IL/Mater Dei) contributed seven kills and three blocks. Freshman middle hitter
Maria Rasch (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) paced the Bearcats in the front row with a team-leading five blocks in the contest.
Senior setter
Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handed out 17 assists as sophomore setter
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) notched 14 sets. Hanger and freshman libero
Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) each handled a team-high 11 digs in the back row for McKendree.
After Southern Indiana (10-6, 5-5 GLVC) controlled the early action to post a 25-11 in set one, McKendree rebounded to knot the contest at a set apiece. There were 12 ties and seven lead changes in the second set, with the final lead change coming thanks to a spurt from the Bearcats. With the set tied at 16-16, a kill from Fairman ignited a 5-1 burst that gave McKendree a 21-17 advantage. The Screaming Eagles chipped away at the deficit and pulled to within 21-19, but the Bearcats were able to hold on and used another attack from Fairman to finish off the set.
Following the Dig Pink ceremony, the teams went toe-to-toe again in the third set. McKendree held a 15-13 lead when Southern Indiana scored five of the next six points to regain the advantage at 18-16. The Bearcats clawed back once again and ripped off three straight points for its final lead of the set at 23-21. The Screaming Eagles used a 3-0 run of its own to serve for the set at 24-23, but an attack error knotted the score one more time at 24-24. However, USI was able to scratch out the final two points to take control in the pivotal third set.
Southern Indiana opened the fourth set on a 13-4 run and build an early lead. The Screaming Eagles eventually pushed the margin to as many as 11 points before McKendree made one final run. A kill from Kampwerth sparked a 6-1 run that helped the Bearcats rally within 22-16. But USI was able to finish off the set and take the match victory in a key GLVC contest.
Abbey Winter led Southern Indiana with 11 kills, while Fawn Ryan added 10 kills on the night. Quin Shoultz dished out a match-high 38 assists and added 12 digs for the Screaming Eagles, while Amy Zwissler helped out with a team-best seven blocks.
