Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 10) --The McKendree University women's volleyball team split a pair of matches dropping a 3-1 decision to Ferris State University in the Bearcats first match and sweeping Embry-Riddle University 3-0 in game two of the Palm Beach Atlantic Bash at The Beach. The Bearcats matches scored 23-25, 26-24, 25-18, and 25-14 and 25-18, 25-12, and 25-5.

The split moves McKendree to 4-4 on the season. The Bearcats will return to action on Sept. 13 with their home opener against Lindenwood University at 7 p.m.

Junior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) led the way for McKendree landing 19 kills to pair with 10 digs. Williams had a match high 52 attacks. Junior right side Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) finished second on the squad with nine kills adding a team high six blocks and five digs. Senior middle Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) added four kills and five blocks for McKendree.

Sophomore setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) and senior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) each tallied 17 assists while recording 15 and 12 digs a piece. Senior Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) put down five kills while tying for a match high 17 digs while senior libero Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) added eight digs from the back row.

Williams got things going for the Bearcats recording the first two kills of the match as the teams played to an even 3-3 start. Ferris State capitalized on a 5-0 run to push ahead 14-7. After extending the lead to
17-9 McKendree was able to utilize a 9-2 run to climb back into the set thanks to a pair of kills from Geiger. The Bearcats continued to roll with a 4-1 run to take their first lead of the match at 22-21 and held on to take a 1-0 lead.

McKendree opened set two with a 5-1 run before extending the lead to 10-5. The Bearcats continued to roll taking three of four points to push ahead 14-8. The Bulldog countered with a 6-2 run to pull within two points before rattling off six straight points to vault ahead 20-17. Williams led McKendree back landing four kills as the Bearcats pulled within one with a 5-3 response at 23-22. After Ferris State landed a kill to force set point the Bearcats rallied to tie with back to back points. The Bulldogs were able to string together a pair of points to hold on and even things at 1-1.

Ferris State picked up where they left off in the third set using a 6-0 run to take a 15-6 lead. The Bearcats were unable to climb out of the early hole as the Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead.

It was more of the same in the fourth set as Ferris State strung together a 10-2 run to go up 14-5. The Bulldogs reeled off another run of 6-0 and closed out the Bearcats with a 3-1 decision.  

In game two Fairman and Geiger paced McKendree offensively with 11 and 10 kills respectively. Williams chipped in eight kills and 13 digs and Schneider added eight of her own.

Melchert and Dickmann each notched 20 assists while Howe dug eight balls to aid the Bearcats defensively. Freshman Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei ) also connected on eight kills to pair with nine digs for the McKendree.

Williams, Schneider, and Geiger each scored kills as the Bearcats took an early 5-2 lead. The Eagles struck back as they tied the match at eight and held even at 10-10 before surrendering four straight to McKendree. Embry-Riddle clawed back once again pulling with one point at 15-14, but was unable to capture the lead as the Bearcats used four kills to spark a 7-0 run and strolled to a seven point win in the first set.

McKendree continued to click in the second as Geiger and Fairman each landed a pair of kills to give the Bearcats a 9-3 lead. Another pair of kills from Geiger started a 5-0 run for McKendree to push ahead 16-5 as the Bearcats took set two by 13 points.

McKendree capped off the weekend by steam rolling what would be the final set of the day with a slew of runs including a pair of 8-0 streaks to complete the three set sweep over the Eagles.