(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 10)--The McKendree University volleyball team will head west this weekend to compete in the Rockhurst University Classic, which will be held Friday and Saturday in Kansas City, MO. The Bearcats will take on four opponents over the two-day tournament starting Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Henderson State University.
McKendree looks to build off of the strong start to its season, after posting a 3-1 record last weekend at the Ferris State University Invitational in Big Rapids, MI. After taking on Henderson State University, the Bearcats will face off versus Winona State University Friday at 5 p.m., before finishing up Saturday against Oklahoma Baptist University at 9:30 a.m., and Wayne State College (Neb) at 5 p.m..
The Bearcats look toward junior middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) and sophomore outside hitter
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) to pick up where they left off from last weekend, after they were selected to the Ferris State University Invitational All-Tournament team. Fairman is tied with a team-high 38 kills through the first four matches of the year, averaging almost three kills per set and hitting at a rate of .523. Fairman also added 13 blocks on the weekend. Geiger turned in an excellent weekend as well, putting up 31 kills of her own along with seven digs and five blocks. McKendree will also look for continued success from freshman setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) after dishing out 66 assists in her college debut.
Other Bearcats to watch for include sophomore outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) who put down 38 kills of her own along with 45 digs and five blocks. Junior setter
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) leads McKendree with 78 assists, senior middle hitter
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) added 27 kills, 10 digs, and four blocks of her own last weekend.
ABOUT HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY
The Reddies have stumbled out of the gates in 2015, dropping all four matches last weekend at the Maryville Invitational. Junior outside hitter Jessie Jacoby leads the team with 71 kills to go along with 45 digs and five blocks. Junior setter Brea May has racked up 110 assists in five matches for the Reddies, at a rate of 6.47 per set. Henderson State picked up its first victory of the season on Wednesday in three sets. Jacoby once again led the way with 19 kills and nine digs.
ABOUT WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Winona State has started off the season 2-1, with the lone loss coming to the fourth-ranked Concordia-St. Paul in four sets.
The Warriors have a very young roster with no seniors and just one junior. The Warriors have a very balanced attack including four players with at least 25 kills and four with at least 25 digs. Winona State is led by sophomores Taylor Gore and Danielle Rampart. Gore leads the Warriors in kills with 43, adding in 41 digs and three blocks. Rampart is close behind with 42 kills, 29 digs and eight blocks. The leading setter for Winona is sophomore McKenna Larsen who has put up 139 assists in just three matches, averaging 10.69 per set. Winona State is coming off a 19-8 record a year ago, one of the best in school history, and is led by second-year head coach Joe Getzin. The Warriors return five starters from a year ago, all of who were freshman.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
The Bison had a strong start to the season, winning their first three matches before dropping their last two to bring their record to 3-2 on the season. Oklahoma Baptist has spread the wealth with four players that have tabbed at least 30 kills. Senior outside hitter Priscila Mendes leads the team with 41 kills, including 22 digs and two blocks. Freshman setter Kennedy Myers has totaled 176 assists and 34 digs through five matches, for a rate of 9.26 assists per set. The Bison are transitioning into their first year as a member of NCAA Division II after moving up from the NAIA.
ABOUT WAYNE STATE COLLEGE
The Wildcats come into this weekend ranked as the fifth best team in the nation with a record of 4-0. Wayne State dropped just one set in its first four matches to start the year. The Wildcats have a small core of players with just seven receiving significant playing time. Of the seven, five have recorded at least 20 kills. Senior outside hitter Katie Hughes leads the Wildcats with 41 kills, averaging 3.15 per set and hitting at a rate of .347. Hughes has also put up 51 digs at just under four per set. The leading setter for the Wildcats is senior Leisa McClintock, who has posted 137 assists thus far, averaging 10.54 per set. No other Wildcat has more than six assists on the season. Other notable players for Wayne State include senior right side Elizabeth Gebhardt, who has 39 kills, 15 digs, and six blocks, and junior middle/outside hitter Alyssa Frauendorfer, with 33 kills, 13 digs, and six blocks of her own.
