(Aurora, Ill., Oct. 14) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team were defeated 3-1 on Saturday by the Northern Michigan University Wildcats (14-6). With the loss, the Bearcats are now 15-5 overall on the season, finishing 1-2 at the Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament in Aurora, IL.

Senior RS Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) led the Bearcat attack, recording 19 kills, and adding 14 digs for a double-double performance. Sophomore Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) had a game high 18 digs for McKendree, and Senior Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) had double-digit kills for the seventh straight match. Junior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) reached 2,000 career assists, collecting 38 in the match. Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) and Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) combined for 13 total blocks.

In the middle of the first set, the Wildcats scored six straight points to take the lead 21-16. The Bearcats then rallied, taking nine of the last eleven points, seven of which were kills, and winning the first set 25-23. Williams led McKendree with eight kills, hitting a blistering .538 in the set.

Despite committing ten attacking errors, Northern Michigan won the second set 25-22, knotting up the match at one set a-piece, following a Kayla Chosa put away. Senior Madison Whitehead paced the Wildcats with seven kills in the set.

McKendree built-up a 16-9 advantage to start out the third set. The Wildcats then responded ferociously, going on a 10-1 scoring run to take the lead away from the Bearcats. NMU needed three set points to put away the third frame 26-24 with a kill from Leticia Antunes, putting themselves one set away from victory.

The Bearcats found themselves in hole early-on in the fourth set, down 11-5. They fought their way back into the set, tying up the score at 14 all. The Wildcats, however, closed out the match, winning the set 25-19.

The Bearcats return to Great Lakes Valley Conference play at home this weekend, taking on the William Jewell College Cardinals at 7 pm on Friday, and the Rockhurst University Hawks at 3 pm on Saturday. You can watch both matches live on the GLVC Sports Network.