(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 5)—The McKendree University volleyball came out ahead in a 3-1 decision over Missouri S&T Saturday evening in a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup. The Bearcats won by scores of 25-19, 25-17, 24-26, and 27-25.

McKendree improves to 18-9 overall with the win and 13-2 in GLVC play. The Bearcats return home for their final three matches of the season starting Tuesday with a 7 p.m. contest against the University of Illinois Springfield.

McKendree was anchored by senior right side Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) and junior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) as each put down 17 kills in the win. Schneider added seven digs and one block while Williams tallied 18 digs and a pair of blocks. Senior middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) added tabbed 16 kills while hitting .387 to go with three digs and two blocks.

Sophomore setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) dished out 31 assists and senior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) added 26 of her own. . Junior right side Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) notched nine kills and four blocks while junior middle blocker Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) contributed six kills and a match high six blocks. Freshman libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) and senior defensive specialist Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) combined for 40 digs in four sets for McKendree.

Schneider put down three kills including a pair that aided a six to one run for the Bearcats as McKendree opened the match with a 9-4 lead. The Bearcats extended that lead to seven points at 15-8 with another 6-1 spree that saw a pair of kills come from Williams' attacks. McKendree continued to rally as Schneider, Williams, and Fairman all scored kills as part of a 4-0 run that saw the Bearcats lead grow to nine points as McKendree rolled to a win in the first set.

The second set followed a different narrative as Missouri S&T 7-1 run to jump out in front 8-3. The Bearcats responded as Fairman put down three kills in the next four points to spark a 12-4 run that flipped the script to give McKendree a 15-2 edge. The Miners took three of the next four points to cut the lead to 16-15, but the Bearcats six straight points with a pair of kills coming from Schneider 22-15 before closing out the set with a 3-0 run to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

Missouri S&T responded with a two point win in the third set, but that momentum was quickly halted as McKendree came out firing in the fourth set as Geiger bookended an 8-0 run with a pair of kills to give the Bearcats an 8-1 lead to start the set. McKendree continued to pour it on with a four point run that included a kill from Fairman and a block from Lorenz and Williams. The Miners wouldn't give up as a pair of 3-0 runs brought them within striking distance. Fairman put down three kills in five points to force set point at 24-17, but Missouri S&T roared back with nine straight points to capture its first lead since the opening point of the set at 25-24. Williams was able to halt the momentum with a kill to square things at 25 before connecting on two more kills to close out the match for McKendree.