Box Score (ROMEOVILLE, Ill., Nov. 8)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team battled Lewis University for five hard-fought sets on Saturday in Romeoville, Ill., but the host Flyers were able to hold off the Bearcats in the 2014 regular-season finale for both teams. Lewis took the match by scores of 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 21-25 and 15-13.
 
McKendree wraps up its regular season with an overall record of 18-12. The Bearcats posted an 11-7 record in Great Lakes Valley Conference matches in 2014. Up next for McKendree will be the program's first-ever appearance at the GLVC Volleyball Championships, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill. Pairings and match times will be announced Sunday by the GLVC office.
 
Sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) and freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) shared team-high honors in kills with 14 apiece. Williams recorded a double-double as she handled 13 digs against Lewis. Senior outside hitter Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) also had a double-double with 13 attacks and 14 digs, while junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) helped out with 10 kills. Sophomore setter Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) notched the third double-double of the contest for McKendree with a team-leading 29 assists and 11 digs.
 
Senior Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) led the back row for the Bearcats with 31 digs, and sophomore setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) dished out 26 assists in the effort.
 
The five-set match was close throughout, with 40 ties and 18 lead changes overall. In the first set the teams battled back and forth with McKendree grabbing a 19-17 lead following a kill by Johnson. Lewis responded by scoring the next four points to regain a 21-19 advantage. The Bearcats rallied within one point two more times before the Flyers finished off the set-one victory.
 
Lewis opened the second set on a 5-1 run before McKendree battled back. The Bearcats seized the lead midway through the set when the Flyers rallied once again to build a lead late in the set. McKendree then closed the set by scoring five of the final six points to even the match at a set apiece. The Flyers then dominated the third set, opening on a 12-3 run on its way to a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
In the fourth set, Lewis appeared to be on its way to victory by taking a five-point lead midway through the contest. McKendree rallied one more time, pulling even before closing the set on a 5-2 run to force a fifth set.
 
There were nine ties and seven lead changes in the deciding fifth set. With the set tied at 12-12, Johnson provided a kill to give the Bearcats their final advantage of the match at 13-12. Lewis then ripped off the final three points to close out the match and gain a season sweep of the Bearcats.
 
Cassidy Parsons led Lewis (22-6, 14-4 GLVC) with 15 kills, while Kim Vertin was right behind with 14 attacks. Leigh Barea handed out a match-high 47 assists, and Amy Choi collected 24 digs for the Flyers.