GAME DAY LINKS -- 
WATCH LIVE (GLVC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS

McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
ROCKHURST SEASON STATISTICS

GLVC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
GLVC ALL-CONFERENCE RELEASE

(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 12)--The McKendree University will not have to wait long to make its debut in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament. 

The Bearcats, who earned their first-ever berth in the eight-team, single-elimination tournament, will take on Rockhurst University in the first match of the 2014 event on Thursday at 11 a.m. For the second time in GLVC history, the league tournament will be hosted at a neutral site. All seven matches will be contested at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill. 

McKendree went 11-7 in GLVC play this season to earn the No. 3 seed from the East Division. The Bearcats, who are 18-12 overall, have elevated their play down the stretch, winning eight of 12 matches heading into the post-season. Although McKendree had a three-match win streak snapped in its regular-season finale at Lewis University on Saturday, the Bearcats stretched the host Flyers to five sets and were edged 15-13 in the deciding set. 

Head coach Nickie Sanlin believes that her McKendree squad is ready for the challenge that awaits in the GLVC Championships. 

"I'm proud of the way our team has been playing of late," said Sanlin. "They've managed to stay loose as the matches have become bigger, but they have been playing with a hunger that is good to see. They have earned their spot in this tournament, and we've had a good week of practice. I'm looking forward to seeing how they respond in a tournament setting. I think they are ready for the challenge."

Rockhurst enters the 2014 GLVC Championship Tournament as the No. 2 seed from the West Division after posting a 25-3 overall record and 15-3 ledger in the conference during the regular season. McKendree will be facing Rockhurst for the second time in the last two weeks. The Bearcats and Hawks squared off on Nov. 1 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon. Rockhurst won the first two sets before McKendree stormed back to force a fifth and deciding set. The Bearcats led 13-12 in the final set before the Hawks rallied to win the final three points and capture the match. Sanlin feels that experience will only help her McKendree squad heading into the GLVC quarterfinals.

"Rockhurst is a very good team," said Sanlin. "They certainly showed that when we played them here (in Lebanon). Our ladies are looking forward to this second chance. We were down two sets but never quit and showed a lot of fire in that match. I really believe they learned a lot about themselves that night and are eager to show that."

Freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) led McKendree with 19 kills, while senior outside hitter Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) and junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) helped out with 12 attacks each. Senior defensive specialist Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handled 33 digs on the night as Williams contributed 23. Sophomore setters Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) (31) and Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) (26) combined for 57 assists against the Hawks. 

Williams (379) and sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) (303) -- are the only two McKendree players with more than 300 attacks in 2014. Fairman has put down a team-leading 102 blocks on the year, with freshman middle hitter Maria Rasch (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) next on the list with 77 blocks. Howe and Dickmann have split setting duties over the last month, with Dickmann handing out a team-high 487 sets and Howe close behind with 467. 

Rockhurst is led by sophomore outside hitter Morgan Rietzke, who has put down 342 kills. Junior middle hitter Preecy Seever is close behind with 328 attacks and a team-leading .391 hitting percentage and 128 blocks. Junior setter Whitney Kostal has dished out 1,253 assists on the year, while Junior right-side hitter Alyssa Arnold has served up 35 aces for the Hawks. Seever had a match-high 21 kills in the win against McKendree back on Nov. 1, while Kostal handed out 58 assists.

The winner from the McKendree-Rockhurst match will move on to the GLVC Volleyball Championship Tournament semifinals on Friday to face either the University of Indianapolis or the University of Missouri-St. Louis.