Box Score (ST. LOUIS, Mo., Sept. 14)—Despite a match-high 15 kills from junior outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic), the McKendree University volleyball team was swept in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match Sunday afternoon at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Bearcats were defeated by scores of 29-27, 25-21 and 25-20.
 
The loss snaps a three-match win streak for McKendree. The Bearcats are now 4-2 overall and 1-1 in GLVC play. McKendree will open the home portion of its 2014 schedule Friday afternoon when it hosts Quincy University in league play. First serve is set for 4 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
Junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) joined Wessel with double-digits kills for McKendree with 11. Senior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handed out a match-high 26 assists and added a pair of service aces, while freshman libero Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) led all players with 17 digs for the Bearcats.  
 
\In the first set, UMSL grabbed a three-point lead on two different occasions early in the contest before McKendree rallied back. An attack by Apetz started a run of five consecutive points that gave the Bearcats their first lead of the day at 9-7. The host Tritons quickly responded and tied the match, and the teams went toe to toe the remainder of the set. From that point through the rest of the first set, there were 11 ties and five lead changes. McKendree served for the first set twice, but UMSL rallied to tie the contest and eventually scored the final two points to take an early lead.
 
The second set was also a seesaw affair until the closing moments. Clinging to a 22-21 lead, the Tritons ripped off the final three points to build a two-set lead in the match. UMSL took control in the third set, building a 10-point lead at one point and served for the match at 24-16. McKendree fought back and scored the next four points to pull within 24-20, but the Tritons outlasted the Bearcats to register the final point and complete the sweep.
 
Jessica Ploss led a balanced attack for UMSL (5-1, 2-0 GLVC) with eight kills, while Lindsey Meyer contributed 22 assists for the Tritons.