(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 13)— The McKendree University women's volleyball team kicked off its 2016 home slate with a non-conference match against Lindenwood University. The Bearcats swept the Lions 3-0 by scores of 25-20, 25-21, and 25-12.

The win moves McKendree to 5-4 overall. The Bearcats return to action Friday at 7 p.m. when they open Great Lakes Valley Conference play against Quincy University in the Statham Center.
McKendree was led by junior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) who tallied a match high 13 kills to pair with ten digs. Senior outside hitter Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) connected on 11 of her 17 attacks for a match high .647 hitting percentage. Junior right side Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) also reached double figures in kills with 10 to go with four digs.

Sophomore setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) recorded a team high 21 assists adding five digs, while senior setter Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) notched 17 helpers and three digs. Junior middle blocker Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) landing seven kills while hitting at a .538 clip, and senior libero Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) stuck a team high 20 digs from the back row for McKendree.

After starting off in a 4-1 hole the Bearcats scored five straight points to take their first lead of the match at 6-4 with help from Geiger and Lorenz, who landed back-to-back kills. The teams exchanged points back and forth before the Lions scored three straight to pull within a point at 15-14. After trading a pair of kills McKendree used a pair of kills from Williams in part of a five-point swing in favor of the Bearcats. Lindenwood was able to string together a three point run late in the set, but the gap was to much as freshman outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei ) and Williams laced back-to-back kills to close out the first set.

Schneider opened set two with a pair of kills to give McKendree an early lead, but the Lions countered with 9-3 run to take a 11-7 lead. The Bearcats rallied to tie, scoring four straight, including a pair of kills from senior middle hitter Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton). McKendree would continue to strike, taking eight of the next nine points including a trio of kills from Geiger. Lindenwood refused to go away quietly, countering with a 5-1 run, but were unable to recapture the lead as the Bearcats took the second set by four.

McKendree continued to roll in the third set jumping out to a 6-1 lead with aces from Howe and Williams, before pushing ahead with a four point run to 13-7. The Bearcats totaled five runs of at least three points in the set, with their longest spanning six points, closing the match with a 13-point win in the final set.