(Kirskville, MO., September 18)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a victory over Truman State. The Bearcats took the best of five set match three-sets to one with scores of 27-25, 25-22, 12-25, and 25-15.

 McKendree improves to 6-3 (1-0) on the season.

Sophomore outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day), and junior middle hitter Sophie Fairmain led the way for the Bearcats. Williams posted 12 kills and 20 digs, while Fairman tabbed 13 kills and four blocks. Junior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) paced the Bearcats in assists with 31 and added 11 digs. Freshman setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) added 21 assists and 11 digs of her own.

Junior libero Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski), junior outside hitter Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh), and senior middle hitter Lauren Apetz (Glenwood, FL/DeLand) also played key roles for the Bearcats. Howe contributed 24 digs, while Schneider and Apetz put down nine and eight kills respectively.

The match was a repeat of the GLVC conference championship and NCAA regional a year ago in which Truman State was victorious.

The Bearcats jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the first set with kills by Williams, Apetz, and Fairman. Truman State came charging back to take the lead 11-9 by taking five of six points from McKendree. The Bearcats responded with a run of their own taking eight of 11 points to take charge 17-14. The roller-coaster set continued as the teams exchanged leads six different times to find the set tied at 24. The Bearcats called a key timeout after the Bulldogs took the lead 25-24, and responded brilliantly by rattling off three straight points to secure the first set 27-25.

McKendree used that momentum to jump out to another 7-3 lead in set two. They never looked back and were able to hold that lead the rest of the set. Fairman put down six kills in the set, while Williams and Apetz each contributed four kills.

The Bulldogs would not go out quietly as they scorched the Bearcats in set three. Truman State jumped out to a 15-3 lead and rolled to a 25-15 victory. The Bearcats regrouped and for a final time jumped out to another 7-3 lead to start set four. The Bulldogs pulled to within one narrowing the Bearcat lead to 9-8, but the Bearcats responded with a six point run thanks to two kills by sophomore outside hitter Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran). McKendree then stretched their lead to nine at 19-10 after three straight miscues from Truman State. That was all the room the Bearcats would need notching a 25-15 set win to clinch the match.

McKendree is back in action tomorrow afternoon when they face off against Quincy University at 4 p.m. in Quincy, IL.