Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., September 5)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team took one of two matches to kick off its 2014 season Friday at the Dunn Hospitality Classic in Evansville, Ind. The Bearcats rolled to a three-set sweep of the University of West Alabama Friday morning before dropping a five-set nailbiter to the University of North Alabama later in the day.
 
McKendree, now 1-1 on the year, will wrap up its stay at the Dunn Hospitality Classic with two more matches on Saturday. At 2 p.m., the Bearcats will square off against Cedarville University before taking on Ohio Dominican University in a 7 p.m. tilt. The two-day classic is being hosted by the University of Southern Indiana.
 
Freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) had a strong debut for McKendree, leading the team with 29 kills on the day. Williams reached double figures in attacks in both matches, posting 16 against North Alabama and 13 versus West Alabama. Sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) contributed 18 kills over the two matches along with seven blocks.
 
In the season opener against West Alabama, McKendree led the majority of the contest on its way to the three-set sweep. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-19, 25-16 and 25-22.
 
The first set was a seesaw battle until a kill by Williams sparked a run of seven consecutive points to help McKendree grab the lead for good at 17-11. The Bearcats eventually stretched its lead to as many as nine points before cruising to the opening-set win. McKendree scored the first five points of the second set and never trailed to take a two-set lead.
 
In set three, West Alabama tried to avoid the sweep and battled the Bearcats back and forth into the later stages of the contest. There were nine ties in the third set, with the last coming at 20-20 before McKendree reeled off four consecutive points to pull to the brink of the sweep at 24-20. The Tigers answered with two straight points before a West Alabama attack error closed out the season-opening win for McKendree.
 
Williams was the only McKendree player to reach double figures in kills. Junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) added eight kills, while senior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) paced the Bearcats with 17 assists and a match-high 10 digs. Sophomore setter Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) dished out 16 assists in the win for the Bearcats.
 
Against North Alabama, McKendree forged a 2-1 lead before the Lions rallied to take the final two sets and escape with the win. The Bearcats fell by scores of 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 18-25 and 9-15.
 
After the teams split the first two sets, McKendree outlasted North Alabama in the pivotal third set by a 26-24 score. The Bearcats never led by more than two points in the contest before the Lions rallied for a 23-20 lead. The Bearcats responded by winning six of the final seven points in the set to build a 2-1 lead over North Alabama.
 
The third set win by McKendree woke the Lions from their slumber as they never trailed in each of the final two sets to earn the come-from-behind victory.
 
Williams finished with a team-leading 16 kills and 16 digs while Fairman notched 14 attacks and three blocks. Hanger handed out 33 assists as Howe added 18 assists. Freshman libero Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) handled 13 digs from the back row, while freshman middle hitter Maria Rasch (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) chipped in with a team-leading four blocks for the Bearcats.