(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 8) --The McKendree University volleyball team will head south to the Sunshine State this weekend to compete in the Hyatt Place Bash at the Beach, which will be held Friday and Saturday in West Palm Beach, FL. The Bearcats will take on four opponents over the two-day tournament starting Friday at 10:00 a.m. against Florida Tech.
McKendree looks to bounce back after opening the season with a 1-3 showing at the Lady Buff Classic last weekend in Canyon, TX. After opening with the Panthers the Bearcats will square off with the University of Bridgeport, before wrapping up the weekend on Saturday with matches against Ferris State University and Embry-Riddle University.
McKendree looks for continued production from a pair of middles as junior
Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) and senior
Sophie Fairman (Staunton, IL/Staunton) who led the team in hitting percentage at .375 and .358 respectively. Lorenz landed 22 of 48 attempts while Fairman posted 30 kills on 67 tries. Lorenz and Fairman each added 17 blocks to aid the Bearcats defensively. Senior outside hitter
Allison Schneider (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh) leads McKendree with 50 kills for an average of 3.33 kills per set, adding 40 digs. Junior outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) is just behind her with 47 kills and 35 digs to go with eight blocks.
Senior setter
Aubry Dickmann (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) has doled out a team high 88 assists in 15 sets to pair with 19 digs. Sophomore setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) ranks second on the squad with 57 assists to go with 17 digs, while senior setter
Rebecca Nauman (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville) has added 20 assists. Senior libero
Breanna Howe (Mt. Pulaski, IL/Mt. Pulaski) averages 3.67 digs per set, totaling 55, which leads the team. Other Bearcats to watch include junior right side
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) who has tallied 22 kills and 10 blocks. Senior right side
Bailey Kampwerth (Breese, IL/Mater Dei) is the only other Bearcat to reach double figures in kills with 12 to go with seven blocks.
ABOUT FLORIDA TECH
The Panthers enter the weekend with a record of 2-1 after their opening weekend. Florida Tech deploys a three pronged attack as their top three scorers boast 32, 32, and 31 kills each. Senior outside hitter Jenna Schaffer is tied for the team lead in kills while ranking second on the squad with 29 digs. Sophomore setter Rosa Klersten has dished out a team high 93 assists adding 27 digs. Junior libero leads the Panthers from the back row with 53 digs for an average of 4.82 digs per set, while sophomore middle blocker Olivia Hersey has posted a team high 12 blocks.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT
The Knights finished with an overall record of 27-9 a season ago including a 15-1 clip in conference play and will open their 2016 campaign this weekend.
ABOUT FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
The Bulldogs opened the season with an identical record of 1-3. Ferris State is led by freshman outside hitter Allyson Cappel who landed a team high 37 kills to go with 51 digs and nine blocks in their opening weekend. Sophomore outside hitter Katie Placek is second on the team with 36 kills to pair with a team high 56 digs. Junior middle Maria Kronner leads the Bulldogs in blocks with 13, while ranking fourth in kills with 27. Senior setter Stephanie Sikorski has handed out a team high 140 assists for an average of 9.33 per set. McKendree dropped a pair of matches with Ferris State a season ago by scores of 3-1 and 3-0.
ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE UNIVERSITY
The Eagles enter the weekend with a record of 2-1 including a victory over a fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Missouri S&T. Embry-Riddle is led offensively by junior outside hitter Paola Virella who has tallied 26 kills for an average of 2.60 per set. Virella is also second on the team with 26 digs. Junior libero Maile Spenser leads the team in digs with 48. Sophomore setter Jordan Nakayama has assisted on 65 kills to lead the team and sits third on the team with 24 digs. Senior outside hitter Amanda Saunders leads the Eagles in blocks with eight to go with 15 kills.
