(Aurora, Ill., Oct. 13) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team went 1-1 on Friday at the 10^th annual Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament in Aurora, IL. The Bearcats fell in five sets to the Wayne State Warriors, and then rebounded by defeating the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets in come from behind fashion. McKendree now sits at 15-4 overall on the season.

Against Wayne State, McKendree opened an 11-1 advantage in the first set, with the Warriors committing five errors. The Bearcats lead didn't dip under eight points the rest of the way, as they took the first set in convincing fashion, 25-14. Seniors Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) and Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) both hit over .500 and combined for nine kills.

The Bearcats started out the second set strong as well, doubling up the Warriors 12-6, with five different players recording kills. Wayne State then strung together five straight kills, cutting into the McKendree advantage, and eventually taking their first lead of the match. The Warriors finished on a 12-2 scoring run, tying up the match at one set a-piece. 

The third set began with both teams trading points to a 5-5 tie. McKendree then took the momentum, going on a 15-4 run, and forcing the Warriors to burn both of their timeouts. A Wayne State attack error put away the set for the Bearcats, 25-15.

Wayne State went on a 10-0 run in the middle of the fourth set, on their way to a 25-15 win to stay alive in the match. The Warriors carried the momentum into the fifth, which they won 15-13 to defeat the Bearcats, and snap their thirteen-match win streak.

Williams led McKendree with 18 kills, hitting .366, and added 12 digs. Geiger contributed 12 kills, and led the Bearcats in digs, with 13. Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) had ten total blocks, and put away eight kills. Junior Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) collected 37 assists to go along with nine digs.

Three different Warriors had double digit kills, with junior outside hitter Hailey Richardson earning a double-double (14 kills and 13 digs). Madelyn Krenz led the way for Wayne State with 15 kills, while Ellie Rodriguez had 16 digs.

In their next match against Cedarville, the Bearcats found themselves down by four late in the first set. Following their second timeout, McKendree came out swinging, scoring the next five points. They would finish off the first frame 27-25, scoring the last three points after fighting off a Yellow Jacket set-point. Williams led the Bearcats with seven kills, while Geiger had seven digs.

The Yellow Jackets took the second set 25-19, behind junior outside hitter Taylor Wilkerson's five kills, and the third set by the same score, to grab a 2-1 lead in the match.

McKendree found themselves chasing the Yellow Jackets for most of the must-win fourth set, and were down 21-16 late. The Bearcats rallied to tie up the score, with a 5-0 scoring run, before cashing in on their second set-point opportunity, via an Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) kill. The 26-24 set win forced a fifth and decisive set, making it the second straight five-set match for McKendree.

The Bearcats took that momentum into the start of the fifth, jumping out to a 5-2 advantage. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 6-2 run, to take the lead. McKendree finished the match on a 5-1 run of their own, to pull out the five-set victory.

Once again, Geiger and Williams led the way for the Bearcats, combining for 41 kills and 33 digs. Melchert had another solid setter performance, compiling 54 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) put down seven total blocks, while another sophomore, Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei), had 15 digs. Freshman outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) recorded her first career double-double, with 11 kills and 12 digs.

The Bearcats wrap up their time at the Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament tomorrow with a 1 pm match against the Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Follow the Official McKendree Bearcats twitter page for updates throughout the match.