(LEBANON, Ill., September 25)—The McKendree University women's volleyball team rolled to a three-set decision Friday night at home over William Jewell College in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match. The Bearcats posted the sweep by scores of 25-17, 25-9 and 25-13.

McKendree improves to 8-4 (3-0) on the season with the win.
Junior middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) led the way for the Bearcats going 13-17 on attacks for a .765 clip. Fairman added 4 blocks to pace McKendree. Sophomore outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) also hit double digit kills with 11 and added eight digs and two blocks.

Other notable contributors for McKendree include freshman setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) who led all Bearcats with 17 assists, junior libero Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) who had a match high 19 digs on the back end for the Bearcats, and junior outside hitter Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) who posted five kills, eight digs, and a block.

The Bearcats fell behind early in set one 4-3, but rallied for eight of the next nine points and never trailed for the rest of the evening. The Bearcats were led in the first set by Williams who posted seven kills for the Bearcats. Set two was a similar tune for McKendree as the Bearcats posted a run of nine straight points highlighted by four kills from Fairman. The third set was capped off by sophomore outside hitter Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran), who ranged back to the edge of the gym and blindly swung at a loose ball that sailed over the net and would not be returned. The point put an exclamation on what would be a short evening at the Statham Center.

The Bearcats return to action on Saturday Sept. 26 with a matchup against conference foe No. 13 Rockhurst University at 3 p.m. in the Statham Center.