(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 6)—The McKendree University volleyball team returns home to the Harry M. Statham Sports Center this weekend after a five-match road swing. McKendree plays host to a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference foes starting with the University of Indianapolis Friday at 7 p.m. before a Saturday afternoon showdown with Saint Joseph's College at 3 p.m.
The Bearcats went 4-1 on their road trip including a 3-2 upset over No. 25 Rockhurst to improve their overall record to 11-5 and 6-1 in the GLVC.
McKendree ranks second in the league in hitting percentage at .239, first in assists per set at 12.98, second in kills per set at 13.91, and second in blocks per set at 2.31.
The Bearcats are led by junior outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) who is first in the GLVC in kills and kills per set at 218 and 3.76, while leading the team in digs with 186. Senior right side
Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) is second on the team with 167 kills to go with 111 digs and 16 blocks. Senior middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) leads the GLVC in attack percentage at .431 after putting down 143 of her 281 attempts. Fairman also leads the team in blocks with 64 for an average of 1.10 per set that places her third in the GLVC. Junior right side
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) rounds out the top attackers for the Bearcats with a line of 116 kills, 33 digs, and 47 blocks.
Senior setter
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) has posted a team high 322 assists (5.55 per set) along with 97 digs, while sophomore setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) comes in just behind her with 303 (5.83 per set). Junior middle blocker
Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) has put down 63 kills and is tied for second on the team with 47 blocks. Senior
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) and freshman
Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) have each seen time at the libero position as Howe has stuck 135 digs with Zeitelhack chipping in 116 of her own to aid the McKendree defensive efforts that rank third in the GLVC in opponents hitting percentage at .149.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
The Greyhounds enter the weekend with an overall record of 6-9 and currently sit one spot behind the Bearcats in the East Division with a record of 4-3. Indianapolis is paced by junior outside hitter Kacee Salyers who leads the Greyhounds with 152 kills and ranks second in digs with 107. Sophomore outside hitter Becca Lira is second on the team with 131 kills to go with 92 digs and 24 blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Katie Voelz rounds out the top three attackers for Indianapolis with 125 kills while leading the Greyhounds in blocks with 53. Sophomore setter Remi Bowman has dished out a team high 485 assists for an average of 10.10 per set that puts her second on the GLVC. Sophomore libero Maggie Gibson has a team high 132 digs from the back row for Indianapolis. The Greyhounds came out ahead of the Bearcats in both meetings a season ago with a 3-1 win on Oct. 10 before eliminating McKendree from the GLVC Tournament 3-2. Both teams hold an 0-1 record against their only common opponent this season with the Bearcats falling 3-1 to West Texas A&M on Sept. 3, while Indianapolis dropped a 3-1 decision to the Buffalos on Sept. 10.
ABOUT SAINT JOSEPH'S COLLEGE
The Pumas enter the weekend on a two game skid, holding an overall record of 3-13 with an 0-7 mark in GLVC contests. Saint Joseph's sports a three headed attack led by freshman right side Julia Kruzan who has put down team highs in kills and blocks with 176 and 21. Junior outside hitter Bridget Krasowski is second on the team with 151 kills to pair with 86 digs. Junior right side Madyson Anthony is the only other Puma to top the 100 kill mark with a line of 114 kills, 40 digs, and 12 blocks. Freshman setter Alyssa Spears has handed out a team high 464 assists for an average of 7.86 per set. Freshman defensive specialist Jena Davis has put up a team high 170 digs for Saint Joseph's this season. McKendree has yet to share a common opponent with the Pumas this season, and the Bearcats took the only meetings between the two programs a season ago by a score of 3-1.
