(Lebanon, Ill., Oct. 21) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team picked up an important Great Lakes Valley Conference victory in front of a noisy home crowd on Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats outlasted the GLVC West Division leading Rockhurst University Hawks (18-6, 7-4 GLVC) in five sets. With the win, McKendree improves to 17-5 overall, and remains undefeated in conference play.
Senior
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) had an outstanding performance, recording a career high 29 kills and adding 20 digs for the double-double. Outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) contributed 17 kills and 10 digs, while sophomore
Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) led the Bearcats with 29 digs. Junior setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) collected 52 assists, to go along with 17 digs.
Rockhurst took the early advantage in the first set, building a 13-7 lead. The Bearcats responded, going on an 8-1 scoring run to take the lead away from the Hawks.
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) would put away the first set for McKendree at 25-23 with her seventh kill of the opening frame.
The next two sets were controlled by Rockhurst, as they took the second 25-19 and the third 25-17. The fourth set was a close battle, with both teams fighting to an 18 all score. At that point, the Bearcats took the next four points, on their way to evening the match up at two sets a-piece, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The fifth set began with the Bearcats and Hawks trading points, and dead-locked at nine all. Three attacking errors by Rockhurst along with a
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) kill swung the momentum in favor of McKendree, as they went on defeat the Hawks 15-11, taking the five-set victory.
The Bearcats are back in action this weekend, as they host the Maryville University Saints on Friday at 7 pm, and then travel to face another GLVC Central Division foe in the University of Missouri St. Louis Tritons on Saturday. Both matches will be available for live streaming on the GLVC Sports Network.
