Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (EVANSVILLE, Ind., Sept. 6)—The McKendree University volleyball team capped a 3-1 start to its 2014 season by sweeping matches against Cedarville University and Ohio Dominican University Saturday on the final day of the Dunn Hospitality Classic in Evansville, Ind. The two-day event was hosted by the University of Southern Indiana.
 
Freshman outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) posted 23 kills and 22 digs to lead the way for McKendree. Sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) contributed 22 attacks and seven blocks over the two victories on Saturday, while senior setter Abby Hanger (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) handed out 48 assists on the day.
 
McKendree will have a week off before opening its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule next Saturday, Sept. 13, with a visit to Maryville University. First serve in St. Louis is set for 5 p.m.
 
The Bearcats opened action Saturday by facing Cedarville University. McKendree dominated the first two sets before outlasting the Yellow Jackets in a nip-and-tuck third set to finish off the sweep. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-19, 25-22 and 27-25.
 
Trailing 7-5 early in the first set, McKendree reeled of a 10-2 run to take control at 15-9. Five different players registered a kill during the burst, including a pair by Williams. The Bearcats led by as many as seven points before grabbing a 1-0 lead in the match. A kill by Fairman early in the second set fueled a run of eight consecutive points for the Bearcats as they seized a 13-5 lead. Cedarville rallied within two points late in the set, but an attack by Williams finished off the game to give McKendree a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Williams and Fairman shared match-high honors with 13 kills each. Hanger had 23 assists while Howe was close behind with 18. Williams handled 13 digs as freshman libero Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) posted 10. Senior right-side hitter Kelsey Johnson (Aviston, IL/Breese Central) registered three service aces against Cedarville.
 
McKendree closed its stay at the Dunn Hospitality Classic with its match versus Ohio Dominican. The contest played out in similar fashion as the Cedarville contest, with the Bearcats cruising through the first two sets before holding off a late charge from the Panthers to finish off a perfect day for McKendree. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-21, 25-15 and 27-25.
 
The first set was a seesaw affair until McKendree scored six of eight points midway through the contest to build a 17-12 advantage. Ohio Dominican rallied to knot the set at 18-18 before the Bearcats edged back out in front to take a 24-20 lead. Freshman middle hitter Maria Rasch (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) closed out the set-one victory with a kill.
 
The Bearcats scored five of the first six points in the second set and never trailed in building a two-set lead in the match. McKendree's largest lead in the set came at the end, thanks to a kill from junior right-side hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand).
 
There were several lead changes in the third and final set, with the largest advantage for either team coming at 11-8 in favor of Ohio Dominican. The Panthers served for set point at 25-24 before McKendree regrouped and closed with a flourish, scoring the final three points to capture the set and complete the sweep. Fairman tied the match at 25-25 with a kill, then Johnson put the Bearcats in front to stay with another attack. Williams then served up one final ace to close out the match.
 
Williams had 10 kills to lead McKendree, while Fairman and Rasch each collected nine attacks. Hanger dished out 25 assists, Williams, Johnson and Schmitt each handled nine digs in the victory.