Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 19)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team had a flair for the dramatic in its three-set sweep of Quincy University Friday afternoon at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats won its 2014 home opener by scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 25-23.
McKendree rallied from deficits of at least four points in each set to post the sweep. The highlight of the come-from-behind efforts came in the second set, when McKendree scored the final seven points to build a 2-0 lead in the match. The Bearcats also bounced back from a five-point deficit midway through the final set to improve to 5-2 on the year and 2-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
On Saturday, McKendree will wrap up a busy weekend at home with a pair of contests at the Statham Center. The Bearcats will open the day at 11 a.m. by hosting GLVC foe Truman State University before taking on West Texas A & M University at 6:30 p.m. West Texas A & M is ranked No. 20 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.
Against Quincy, freshman outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) led the way for McKendree with a match-high 14 kills. Sophomore middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) helped out with 12 attacks while junior outside hitter
Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) added 10 kills. Sophomore setter
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) led all players with 25 assists in the victory, while Howe and senior setter
Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) each collected 11 digs for the Bearcats.
In the opening set, Quincy (2-7, 0-3 GLVC) built a 10-6 lead before McKendree scored nine of the next 10 points to take command at 15-11. Fairman had two kills to pace the key surge as the Bearcats stretched their margin to as many as seven points in taking a one-set lead in the match.
The visiting Hawks again grabbed an early lead in the second set before the Bearcats rallied back to knot the set at 11-11. Quincy then scored the next six points as part of a 9-2 burst to take a 20-13 lead. The Hawks were on the verge of tying the match at a set apiece, serving for the second set at 24-19 when McKendree fought back once again.
Williams put down three straight kills to start the McKendree comeback, bringing the Bearcats within 24-22. Following a Quincy timeout, a Hawks' attack error and a kill by Wessel knotted the set at 24-24. A ball handling error gave McKendree a one-point advantage before Williams capped the rally with a kill off a pass from Howe to help the Bearcats steal the set-two win.
Quincy looked to bounce back in the third set, building a four-point lead on six different occasions with the last coming at 18-14. McKendree chipped away at its deficit and pulled even at 21-21 thanks to a service ace from Williams. After the teams traded points, the Bearcats took the lead for good and finished off the sweep thanks to a pair of attacks from Wessel.
Bekah Raebel led Quincy with nine kills, while Rachael Binash handed out 16 assists and Sommer Holder had a team-leading 12 digs for the Hawks.
