Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., September 27)—The McKendree University volleyball team snapped a four-match losing streak with a four-set victory Saturday afternoon at home against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
 
There were plenty of stars for the Bearcats as four different players recorded double-doubles in the win against the Rangers. McKendree moves back to the .500 mark at 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
 
Freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) put down a match-high 16 kills and added 10 digs for McKendree. She also had a .483 hitting percentage against the Rangers. Senior outside hitter Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) matched her career-high set just hours earlier with 11 attacks while chipping in with 11 digs. Senior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handed out 23 assists to lead the Bearcats while helping out with 10 digs. Sophomore setter Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) rounded out the list of double-doubles for McKendree with 19 assists and 10 digs. Howe also served up three aces in the victory.
 
Freshman setter Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) led all back row players with 16 digs in the win over Wisconsin-Parkside.
 
McKendree dominated the first set, opening the match on a 17-6 run and never looking back to build a one-set lead in the contest. The visiting Rangers led in the early stages of the second set before the Bearcats scored seven of eight points to take the lead for good at 15-12. Williams punctuated the run with a kill off a pass from Hanger. McKendree eventually stretched its lead to as many as seven points down the stretch to take a two-set advantage into the intermission.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside (6-5, 3-3 GLVC) fought off another McKendree rally to scratch out a win in the third set. The Rangers held a 15-9 lead before the Bearcats started to chip away and pulled even at 20-20 on a kill by junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand). But Wisconsin-Parkside regained its composure to pull out a 25-23 win to force a fourth set.
 
McKendree led from start to finish in the fourth set, opening the contest by scoring 10 of the first 14 points and slowly pulling away from there. The Bearcats used a 7-0 run late in the match to build its largest lead at 24-8.
 
Jackie Langer led a balanced attack for Wisconsin-Parkside with nine kills. Megan Pekarek handed out a match-high 25 assists, while Jessi Mainczyk collected 15 digs to pace the Rangers. The teams will meet again Nov. 7 during the final regular-season weekend in Kenosha, Wis.
 
The Bearcats closed out a season-long six-match home stand with Saturday's victory. McKendree will be on the road for its next three contests, beginning with a Tuesday GLVC tilt at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. First serve is set for 7 p.m.