GAME DAY LINKS --
LIVE VIDEO (Bearcat Sports Network)
LIVE STATS (LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 18)--The McKendree University women's volleyball team will make its home debut for 2014 with a trio of matches at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats will open the weekend on Friday at 4 p.m. by taking on Great Lakes Valley Conference opponent Quincy University. On Saturday, McKendree will have a pair of contests, beginning with an 11 a.m. battle with another GLVC rival in Truman State University. The Bearcats will wrap up a busy weekend by hosting the No. 20-ranked team in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, West Texas A & M University, Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
McKendree enters the weekend with an overall record of 4-2, while holding a 1-1 mark in GLVC play. The Bearcats opened their league slate by splitting matches last weekend in St. Louis. McKendree held off Maryville University in four sets last Saturday before suffering a three-set sweep at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday. The UMSL defeat snapped a three-match winning streak for the Bearcats. McKendree's 4-2 start is the best for the program since the 2010 season, when the Bearcats won five of their first six contests on their way to a 27-12 season.
In St. Louis, junior right-side hitter
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) notched 11 kills in each match, while junior outside hitter
Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) put down a season-best 15 attacks at UMSL and sophomore middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) collected 11 kills in the win against Maryville. Senior setter
Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) continues the strong start to her final season with the Bearcats, handing out 56 assists in the seven sets played. Freshman libero
Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) handled 17 digs in each of the two contests last weekend for McKendree.
Through the first six matches of the year, freshman outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) leads McKendree with 52 kills, while Fairman is next with 40 attacks. Fairman also paces the squad with 14 blocks (two solos) and freshman middle hitter
Maria Rasch (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) has provided 10 blocks up front. Hanger has posted 98 assists with sophomore setter
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) adding 64 sets.
ABOUT QUINCYThe Hawks bring a 2-6 overall record into the weekend. They dropped both of their GLVC contests last weekend at home, falling to both Lewis University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in straight sets. Quincy snapped a four-match losing streak on Wednesday with a five-set victory at home over Missouri Baptist University. Senior outside/right-side hitter Briann Joslin leads a balanced offensive attack for the Hawks with 70 kills and is second on the squad with 22 blocks. Joslin also leads Quincy with nine service aces. Freshman middle blocker Jessica Licurgo has put down 31 blocks through eight matches, while freshman setter Miranda Rodriguez has 133 assists and sophomore setter Rachael Binash has handed out 114 sets.
In 2013, Quincy defeated McKendree in four sets up at Pepsi Arena.
Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) and
Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) each collected 10 kills against the Hawks.
ABOUT TRUMAN STATEThe Bulldogs are 5-2 on the year and have won both of their GLVC tilts to date. Truman State brings a three-match winning streak into the weekend, including a conference sweep of Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis in Kirksville, Mo. Sophomore outside hitter Kayla Bastian has a team-best 75 kills, while senior outside hitter Allie Brak is close behind with 70. Bastian has also handled 70 digs for the Bulldogs. Junior middle hitter Ail Patterson paces the squad with 18 kills, and senior setter Meghan Zimmerman has handed out a team-leading 200 assists in just seven matches.
Like Quincy, Truman State defeated McKendree in four sets during the 2013 meeting between the two programs in Kirksville.
Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) led the Bearcats with 13 kills in the contest.
ABOUT WEST TEXAS A & MThe Lady Buffs bring a No. 20 national ranking and an impressive resume to the Statham Center this weekend. West Texas A & M is 7-2 on the year and has won each of its last five contests. The win streak includes sweeping all four matches at the Kingsville Invitational and taking a Lone Star Conference meeting against East New Mexico. Senior outside hitter Lauren Bevan leads the way for the Lady Buffs with 115 attacks and a .338 hitting percentage. Senior setter Kameryn Hayes is second on the squad with 73 kills but has a team-best 195 assists. Junior middle blocker Jessica Johnson anchors the front row for the Lady Buffs with 30 blocks, while sophomore middle blocker Leah Mayer is close behind with 28 blocks.
Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between McKendree and West Texas A & M.
WHAT'S NEXTMcKendree will continue its six-match home stand on Tuesday when Missouri S & T comes to the Statham Center for a non-conference battle. First serve is set for 7 p.m. It will also be Faculty Appreciation Night for the McKendree volleyball program.
