Box Score (ST. LOUIS, Mo., Sept. 13)—The McKendree University volleyball team started its 2014 Great Lakes Valley Conference season on the right foot with a four-set victory at Maryville University. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-21, 25-19, 18-25 and 25-21.
Three players reached double figures in kills as McKendree improved to 4-1 overall on the year. The Bearcats will close out its opening weekend of conference play with a Sunday afternoon contest at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
Junior right-side hitter
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) (Glenwood, Fla./DeLand) and sophomore middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) (Staunton, Ill./Staunton) each put down 11 kills to lead a balanced attack for McKendree. Freshman outside hitter
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) (Tomball, Texas/Concordia Lutheran) was close behind with 10 attacks while junior right-side hitter
Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) helped out with eight kills. Fairman and Geiger were also strong at the net for the Bearcats as Fairman notched a match-high eight blocks and Geiger contributed five blocks.
Senior setter
Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) led all players with 30 assists as sophomore setter
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) (Mt. Pulaski, Ill./Mt. Pulaski) added 20 sets. Freshman libero
Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) handled 17 digs to lead the Bearcats while senior outside hitter
Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) picked up 10 digs in the victory.
After edging the host Saints in the first set, McKendree dominated the second set thanks to a .405 hitting percentage. The Bearcats grabbed the lead early in the contest and pulled away to build a two-set lead. Maryville (3-3, 0-1 GLVC) bounced back to capture the third set, cutting the McKendree lead to 2-1. The fourth and final set featured 15 ties and eight lead changes, with the Bearcats grabbing control late in the set to finish off the match victory.
Ashley Selman and Laura Welling each had nine kills to lead Maryville, while Ali Lampen handled a match-high 21 digs for the Saints.
