(Lebanon, Ill., Oct. 25) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team is set for two Great Lakes Valley Conference Central Division match-ups this weekend. They host the Maryville University Saints on Friday at 7 pm, before heading to St. Louis to take on the UMSL Tritons. Both matches can be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network.
Following a five-set win over the Rockhurst Hawks on Saturday, the Bearcats (17-5, 11-0 GLVC) moved into first place in the GLVC, as the Lewis University Flyers were upset by Bellarmine, giving them their first conference loss of the season.
McKendree features two players in the GLVC top three for kills, in senior outside hitter Arela Williams and senior right-side hitter
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran). Williams is currently leading the GLVC in kills, averaging 4.52 per set, and has collected 214 digs for an average of 2.52 per set. Geiger is averaging 3.79 kills per set, and is second on the team in digs, averaging 3.53 per set.
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) is fourth in the GLVC in assists, averaging 10.31 per set. The junior setter is also averaging more than three digs per set and has recorded 42 total blocks. Sophomore
Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) has recorded a team-high 354 digs, for an average of 4.16 per set. She was named GLVC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) leads the Bearcats with 103 total blocks, placing her third in the GLVC in that category. The native of New Lenox, IL has also contributed 94 kills on the season. Another middle for McKendree, sophomore
Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown), has contributed 87 total blocks and 108 kills.
Maryville University Saints (2-22, 1-10 GLVC)
Maryville is coming off two conference losses and a non-conference loss to Kentucky Wesleyan on Tuesday night, and remain in last place in the GLVC Central Division.
They are led on offense by sophomore outside hitter Allison Lakin and senior middle blocker Ashley Selman. Lakin leads Maryville in kills, averaging 3.3 per set, and is second on the team in digs, with 162. Selman is second in kills, posting 161 so far on the season. She leads the Saints in blocking, with 65 total.
Sophomore outside hitter Cassidy Arndt is averaging 1.89 kills per set and 1.94 digs per set. Senior defensive specialist Makayla Campbell is averaging 2.35 digs per set.
Sophomore Kayla Buxton and Freshman Addison Plant are leading the Saints in assists, combining for 502 total.
McKendree has won the last six match-ups between the Bearcats and the Saints, dating back to the 2012 season.
University of Missouri St. Louis Tritons (16-6, 6-5 GLVC)
UMSL picked up wins against Missouri S&T and Truman State last weekend and now sit in 3
rd place in the GLVC Central. The Tritons are ranked second in the GLVC in two defensive categories, holding their opponents to just 10.25 kills per set and a .141 hitting percentage.
The Tritons boast four attackers averaging over two kills per set in their line-up. Sophomore Outside hitters Kylie Rudsinski and Selena Nolte are leading UMSL in that category, having put away a combined 482 kills. Red-shirt sophomore Maddy Russell is averaging 2.66 kills per set, and 2.13 digs per set. Junior middle Alex Miner is leading the team in total blocks, with 69, and has recorded 185 kills while hitting .301.
Senior libero Danielle Waedekin is ranked in the GLVC top ten for digs, averaging over five per set. Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Childers and junior libero Alivia Brinker contribute to the Tritons defense, averaging 3.05 and 2.04 digs per set respectively.
Senior Madison Abeyta and freshman Payton Kennelly have shared the setting duties for UMSL this season. Abeyta leads the team in assists, averaging 6.05 per set, and has collected 135 digs. Kennelly is averaging 4.73 assists per set, adding 1.73 digs per set.
Nickie Sanlin has a record of 4-0 against the Tritons since taking over as head coach of the Bearcats.
