Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 20)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team suffered a pair of losses Saturday at home, starting the day with a four-set loss in Great Lakes Valley Conference play to Truman State University before falling in four sets to No. 20-ranked West Texas A & M at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
With their two losses on Saturday, the Bearcats slip to 5-4 overall and are now 2-2 in the GLVC. McKendree will continue its six-match home stand on Tuesday when Missouri S & T comes to town for a non-conference tilt. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
 
Freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) collected 29 kills over the two matches, including 20 in the loss to Truman State. Junior outside hitter Hannah Wessel (Waterloo, IL/Gibault Catholic) put down a career-high 19 kills against Truman State. Sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) registered 18 kills, with 11 coming against West Texas A & M, while junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) had 12 of her 17 attacks on the day against West Texas A & M.
 
Sophomore setters Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) and Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) combined for 94 assists on the day as Williams and senior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) helped anchor the back row with 64 total digs on the day.
 
Against Truman State, McKendree jumped out in front by taking the first set, but the visiting Bulldogs regrouped to win the next three sets and the match. Truman State won by scores of 20-25, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-17.
 
McKendree took an early lead in the first set before Truman State scored five of six points to surge in front at 12-11. The teams battled toe-to-toe until the Bearcats forged a 22-19 lead. After the Bulldogs trimmed the deficit back to two points, McKendree reeled off the final three points, including a kill from Wessel, to take the first set.
 
Truman State (5-3, 2-2 GLVC) responded by scoring the first seven points of the second set. McKendree chipped away at the deficit and got as close as 14-12 when a 5-0 run enabled the Bulldogs to extend its lead back to seven points. McKendree tried to rally one final time, coming within 24-23 on a kill by Williams, but Truman State was able to score the final point to seven the match at a set apiece.
 
From there, Truman State took control as it won a seesaw third set, overcoming a McKendree lead late in the contest. The Bulldogs completed the sweep as they built an 11-point lead in the fourth and deciding set and cruised to the win.
 
McKendree looked to rebound in the final match of the night against West Texas A & M, the No. 20-ranked team in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. The teams split the first two sets before the Lady Buffs pulled away to grab the final two sets and the match. West Texas A & M posted the four-set win by scores of 25-15, 21-25, 25-21 and 25-19.
 
West Texas A & M dominated the first set in posting its 10-point win before McKendree responded to knot the contest with a set two triumph. The Bearcats scored seven of the first 10 points in the second set. The Lady Buffs clawed their way back and eventually pulled even at 13-13 when Williams put down a kill to give McKendree a one-point advantage. The Bearcats never trailed the rest of the set and went into the intermission tied at a set apiece.
 
Set three was not decided until the closing moments, when West Texas A & M broke a 16-16 tie by scoring five consecutive points on its way to taking a 2-1 lead in sets on the Bearcats. The Lady Buffs then took control in the middle stages of the fourth set to finish off the victory.