(St. Charles, MO. October 27)—The McKendree University volleyball team dropped a four-set decision on the road in St. Charles, MO against Lindenwood University on Tuesday. The Bearcats fell by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, and 25-15.

McKendree is now 15-9 overall and 9-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The match was the final non-conference contest for the Bearcats this season. McKendree returns to action Friday with a GLVC road tilt against the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The Bearcats were led by sophomore outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day), who notched a double-double for McKendree and was the only Bearcats to reach double figures in kills with 15, paired with 10 digs. Junior middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) tallied eight kills and eight blocks for McKendree, while junior outside hitter Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) put down seven kills, nine digs, and four blocks. Junior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) paced the Bearcats in assists with 19, adding four digs and two kills, while freshman setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) contributed 15 assists. Sophomore libero Ashly Schmitt (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) had a match high 16 digs.

McKendree fell behind early after three kills and an ace opened the contest with Lindenwood. The Bearcats trailed 6-1 before a kill from Williams got McKendree into the match. Trailing 9-5 the Bearcats utilized a 6-1 run to take their first lead of the evening 11-10. The teams traded leads until a four point run, which included kills from Schneider and Williams, put McKendree ahead 18-16. The teams traded a pair of points before the Lions went on a five point run, capitalizing on four Bearcats errors. Lindenwood went on to take seven of the final eight points to close out the first set by four.

McKendree came out firing in set two with kills on their first four points, split between Williams and sophomore outside hitter Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran). The Lions came back to take a 6-5 lead before a three point spree put the Bearcats up by two. Lindenwood led 10-9 before McKendree rattled off six of the next seven points to claim a five point advantage and force a Lion timeout. The Bearcats cruised the rest of the way taking set two by six points.

McKendree was clicking again early in set three jumping to a 6-3 lead and extending it to 9-5 with kills from Fairman and senior middle hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand). The Lions creeped back into the set with a four point run including three straight kills to make it 9-9. Lindenwood eventually broke through to take a one point lead before handing it right back with three errors in four points capped off by a Schneider kills to give the Bearcats a 18-15 lead. McKendree led by two before three straight kills sparked a four point run to give the Lions a two point lead. The Bearacts cut it to 23-22 before Lindenwood fired back to back kills to clinch the set.

McKendree took the first three points of the fourth set before the teams battled to 13-11 in favor of the Lions. Lindenwood took eight of the next nine points including a six point run to pull away from the Bearcats. The Lions went on to a ten point win to clinch the match.