(East Peoria, Ill., November 20)—The McKendree University volleyball team advanced to the semifinal-round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament with a 3-1 decision over the University of Southern Indiana Friday afternoon. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-19, 17-25, 25-22, and 26-24.

McKendree will square off with the University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in a rematch of last year's semifinal match, after Indianapolis edged Missouri S&T in its quarterfinal match. The Bearcats topped the Greyhounds to advance to their first GLVC title match in school history.

The win moves McKendree to 22-10 on the season. The Bearcats fell to the Greyhounds in four sets on Oct. 10 in their only meeting this season.

Sophomore outside hitter and GLVC player of the year Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) led a balanced attack for McKendree landing 14 kills 11 digs. Fellow sophomore outside hitter Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) also reached double digits in kills for the Bearcats with 11 kills. Senior right side Taylor Voss (Breese, IL/Breese Central) finished third in kills with nine while adding three blocks.

Junior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) notched a double-double with a team high 26 assists and 10 digs. Freshman setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) played a key role passing out 20 assists of her own. Junior outside hitter Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) put down eight kills and added 18 digs, while junior middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) tabbed eight kills and four blocks.


McKendree started hot in the first set using four kills to spark an eight point run taking an early 13-7 lead. The Eagles responded with a three point run, but McKendree was able to capitalize on back to back kills and two attack errors to stretch their lead to eight and cruised to a six point win.

Southern Indiana bounced back to take set two and took an early 4-2 lead in the third set. The Bearcats rallied to tie the set at six before using an eight to two run to open up a 14-9 lead. The Eagles clawed back after exchanging points using a six point run to tie the set at 21. A Geiger kill put McKendree back in the lead and the Bearcats closed out the set with three straight points including kills from Schneider and Voss to escape with a three point win.

McKendree streaked out ahead in the fourth set with a kill from Fairman and three Southern Indiana attack errors. After the Eagles cut the lead to 5-2 the Bearcats reeled off five straight points with kills from Williams and Voss. Three straight attack errors from McKendree brought the Eagles within striking distance, but the Bearcats responded with kills from Williams, Geiger, and sophomore middle blocker Maria Rasch (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) to push the lead to 14-8. After exchanging kills Southern Indiana rallied to tie the match at 15 winning six straight points. McKendree roared back with a pair of kills from Schneider and Williams. After each team landed kills the Bearcats gave the Eagles their first lead of the set with three attack errors. After exchanging a pair of points the Bearcats found themselves trailing 24-23. Once again McKendree rallied to take the final three points to clinch the set 26-24 and advance to the semifinal-round.

The win avenged the Eagles victory over the Bearcats just six days ago on the final day of the regular season that punched Southern Indiana's ticket to the GLVC Tournament.