(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 17)--The McKendree University women's volleyball team will open Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a pair of road matches this weekend. The Bearcats will travel to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup, followed by a Saturday matinee against Quincy University at 4 p.m. in Quincy, IL.
The Bearcats enter conference play with a 5-3 record after competing in eight non-conference matches to start the 2015 season. McKendree expects to have another strong showing in the GLVC after going 11-7 a year ago.
The Bearcats will look for continued success from sophomore outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) and junior middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton). Williams leads McKendree with 91 of the Bearcats 400 kills, averaging just over three kills per set. She also paces McKendree with 100 digs. Fairman is right behind her with 76 kills, and a team leading 33 blocks.
Junior setter
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) has 59 digs and a team high 185 assists for the Bearcats, averaging 6.38 assist per set. Freshman setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) has also made an impact with 132 assists and 58 digs of her own. Other Bearcats to watch include senior middle hitter
Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand), who has 53 kills, 20 digs, and 13 blocks. Outside hitters
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) and
Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) have each put down 43 kills this season. Schneider has also added 51 digs and seven blocks, while Geiger has13 digs and 11 blocks of her own.
ABOUT TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY
The Bulldogs have also started 2015 with a 5-3 mark. Truman has one common opponent with the Bearcats in California (PA), who the Bulldogs beat in five-sets. McKendree was able to best the Vulcans in four-sets. Truman is led by junior outside hitter Kayla Bastian, who leads the Bulldogs with 86 kills, adding 123 digs and 18 blocks. Redshirt Freshman Matti Mason handles the setting duties for the Bulldogs, averaging 8.2 assists per set with 246 of the teams 324 assists. Other Bulldogs to keep an eye on include senior right side Abby Heise who has tallied 59 kills, 83 digs, and 25 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Jasmine Brown and senior middle hitter Ali Patterson have each topped 60 kills for the Bulldogs.
ABOUT QUINCY UNIVERSITY
The Hawks are off to a pedestrian 4-4 start after opening the season with eight non-conference matches. The Hawks and Bearcats do not hold any common opponents thus far in 2015, but McKendree topped Quincy in three-sets a year ago. Quincy puts on a balanced offensive scheme with three Hawks tallying over 60 kills. Sophomore right side Bekah Raebel leads the way with 70 kills, 22 digs and 22 blocks. Senior right side Gianna Lincoln is right behind Raebel with 67 kills and 77 digs. Sophomore libero Rachel Shores paces the Hawks with 122 digs, at a rate of 4.52 per set. The setting duties for Quincy are handled by sophomore Miranda Rodriguez and senior captain Cassandra Cahill, who have tallied 133 and 116 assists respectively.
