LIVE STATS VS BU
GLVCSN
LIVE STATS VS USI
GLVCSN
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 10) -- The McKendree University volleyball team will close out the regular season with a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference matches this weekend inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. The Bearcats take on Bellarmine University Friday at 7 p.m. before closing out the weekend Saturday with a 5 p.m. tilt against the University of Southern Indiana on Senior Day.
McKendree enters the weekend with a 19-9 record including a 14-2 mark in GLVC play that ranks second in the East Division. The Bearcats, winners of five straight, are coming off a 3-0 sweep over the University Illinois-Springfield Tuesday night.
In the latest Great Lakes Valley Conference statistical report, McKendree ranks third in the league in attack percentage (.234) and fourth in the league in kills (13.54 per set). The Bearcats are also fifth in blocks (2.06 per set) and fourth in assists (12.65 per set).
McKendree is paced offensively by junior outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) who ranks second in the GLVC in both kills and kill per set at 378 and 3.63 respectively. Williams has also put down a team high 3.31 digs per set this season. Senior middle hitter
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) leads the GLVC in attack percentage at .384 while averaging 2.39 kills per set and .91 blocks per set. Senior outside hitter
Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) is second on the team in kills per set, averaging 2.94 along with 1.83 digs per set. Junior right side
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) is the only other Bearcat to average at least two kills per set at 2.13.
Sophomore setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) has passed out a team high 5.69 assists per set this season to pair with 1.59 digs per set. Senior setter
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) is just behind her at 5.42 assists per set to pair with 1.62 digs per set. Junior middle blocker
Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) has put down 1.12 kills per set while leading the team in blocking with a 1.02 average. Freshman libero
Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) averages 2.83 digs per set and senior defensive specialist
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) adds 2.30 digs per set to aid the Bearcats defensively.
ABOUT BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY
The Knights enter the weekend with an overall record of 19-10 and hold an 8-8 record in the GLVC. Bellarmine is led by junior outside hitter Margaret Horihan who leads the league in kills per set at 4.08 on .222 attacking. Horihan also averages 2.85 digs per set for the Knights. Junior outside hitter Hayden Dailey is the only other player to average over two kills per set at 2.37 to pair with 2.67 digs per set. Junior setter Allie Muha is third in the conference in assists per set at 9.28, adding 2.33 digs per set. Sophomore middle hitter Lydia Lange leads the Knights in blocks with an average of .75. Sophomore libero Jordyn Kuchenbrod averages a league leading 6.83 digs per set from the back row for Bellarmine. The Knights hold a record of 8-7 against common opponents with McKendree this season, while the Bearcats are 13-2 in those matches. McKendree topped Bellarmine 3-0 in Louisville, KY on Oct. 1 in their first meeting this season.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
The Screaming Eagles hold a record of 9-19 this season and are just 3-13 in league play. Southern Indiana rides an eight match losing streak entering weekend play. The Screaming Eagles are paced by freshman outside hitter Mikaila Humphrey who leads the team in kills per set at 2.70 to with 1.47 digs. Senior middle hitter Amy Zwissler is second on the squad with an average of 2.54 kills per set on .207 attacking. Sophomore setter Erika Peoples leads the team with 9.21 assists per set that ranks fifth in league play. Junior libero Shannon Farrell averages a team high 5.55 digs per set and junior middle blocker Te'Ayla Whitfield has put down .82 blocks per set to anchor Southern Indiana's defensive effort. The Screaming Eagles are 3-12 against common opponents of McKendree this season while the Bearcats are 13-2 in those matches. McKendree topped Southern Indiana 3-0 in their first meeting of the season on Sept. 30.
