Box Score (ROLLA, Mo., Oct. 25)—The McKendree University volleyball team kicked off the final leg of its six-match road trip in impressive fashion Saturday evening with a four-set victory at Missouri S & T.
 
Junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) put down a season-high 20 kills and added five blocks, while freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) helped out with 18 attacks and a team-leading 22 digs in the win for McKendree. The Bearcats, who avenged a three-set loss to the Miners earlier this season in Lebanon, won their third consecutive match to improve to 14-9 overall. McKendree is now 8-4 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
 
The Bearcats will close out their weekend road trip on Sunday when they travel to Springfield, Mo., for a 1 p.m. contest at Drury University.
 
Senior outside hitter Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) also posted a double-double for McKendree with 12 kills and 14 digs at Missouri S & T. Sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) contributed 11 attacks and a match-high eight blocks in the win for the Bearcats. Sophomore setters Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) and Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) combined for 58 assists in the match, with Dickmann putting up 33 sets and Howe posting 25 assists. Senior Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handled 17 digs in the back row for McKendree.
 
In the first set, Missouri S & T (12-11, 7-5 GLVC) led by as many as four points midway through the contest before McKendree battled back. With the set tied at 18-18, a kill from junior right-side hitter Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) and consecutive blocks pushed the Bearcats out to a 21-18 lead. Fairman was involved in both blocks, combining with Williams on the first one and Voss on the second. Apetz then put down three kills to help close the set.
 
McKendree grabbed the lead early in the second set thanks to a 4-0 run to take a 9-5 advantage, but held off several challenges from the Miners. Apetz, who had six kills in the opening set, added five more to help the Bearcats build a two-set lead in the contest.
 
Missouri S & T bounced back after the intermission and never trailed in taking the third set. The teams then went toe-to-toe in the fourth set in a game that featured 18 ties and four lead changes. McKendree pulled out in front at 21-20 following an attack from Apetz. The teams continued to trade points until a kill from Williams enabled the Bearcats to forge a 25-24 lead. On match point, Fairman and Williams combined for one final block to give McKendree the four-set victory.
 
Gracey Moon was the lone Missouri S & T player to reach double figures in kills with 11. Allie Plunk handed out a match-high 40 assists for the Miners, while Jackie Pyles handled 30 digs in the effort.