(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 1)--The McKendree University volleyball team will host a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference contests this homecoming weekend. The Bearcats will square off against the University of Southern Indiana for a 7 p.m. first serve on Friday before hosting Bellarmine University Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
McKendree looks to continue its strong start to GLVC play as the Bearcats are currently tied with USI for second place in the GLVC East Division at 3-1 and are 8-5 overall. The Bearcats opened a five-match home stand last weekend going 1-1 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. McKendree started with a 3-0 win over William Jewell Friday, before dropping a Saturday matinee to Rockhurst.
McKendree is led by sophomore outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) who has a team high 141 kills and 156 digs. Williams has averaged 3.07 kills and 3.39 digs per set. Junior middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) has put down 116 kills of her own along with a team-high 51 blocks. Junior
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) and freshman
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) have handled the setting duties for the Bearcats. Dickmann has dished out 275 assists, averaging over six per set, while Melchert has 223 helpers averaging just over five per set. The pair of setters have each topped 85 digs on the season to aid McKendree defensively.
Other Bearcats to keep an eye on include a pair of outside hitters, junior
Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) and sophomore
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) who have 78 and 75 kills respectively. Junior libero
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) has also contributed with 136 digs on the back end for the Bearcats.
ABOUT SOUTHERN INDIANA
The Eagles have gotten off to fast start going 10-3 and are tied with McKendree at 3-1 in GLVC play. Southern Indiana utilizes a three headed attack from senior right side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling, senior middle blocker Abbey Winter, and sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris. Oberbroekckling and Morris are tied for a team high in kills with 154, averaging 3.21 per set. Oberbroekckling has also put up 144 digs and 23 blocks, while Morris has 137 digs and 22 blocks of her own. Winter is a close third with 140 kills and leads the Eagles with 69 blocks averaging 1.50 per set. Junior setter Quin Shoultz paces Southern Indiana with 506 assists, handing them out at a rate of 10.77 per set, while sophomore defensive specialist Shannon Farrell has contributed a team high 274 digs for the Eagles. McKendree shares an identical 3-2 record against common opponents with Southern Indiana, as both schools topped Truman State, Quincy, and William Jewell. The Eagles took a four-set decision over the Bearcats last October at the Statham Center.
ABOUT BELLARMINE
The Knights have stumbled out of the gate, getting off to a 6-8 start including a 1-3 mark in GLVC play. Bellarmine also leads a balanced attack with three players eclipsing 100 kills. Freshman outside hitter Aurryella Mason leads the Knights with 117 kills, adding 72 digs and 65 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Margaret Horihan is right behind her with 114 kills and a team high 25 blocks, while sophomore middle blocker Megan Kimbley 104 kills, 60 digs, and 20 blocks. Other players to watch out for include junior outside hitter Ashley Jefferson, who has 99 kills of her own along with 20 blocks and sophomore setter Allie Muha who has dished out 440 of the Knights 575 assists to pair with 91 digs. McKendree shares four common opponents with Bellarmine, with the teams each splitting matches versus William and Jewell and Rockhurst, while the Bearcats have two matches in hand from Quincy and Truman over the Knights. McKendree swept Southern Indiana in three sets a year ago.
