(Lebanon, Ill., Oct. 4) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball program has gotten off to its best start in program history since joining the NCAA, thanks in large part to an impressive 11 match winning streak, which they will look to extend this weekend on the road. The Bearcats (12-3, 7-0 GLVC) will take on two Great Lakes Valley Conference Central Division foes, the Quincy University Hawks on Friday at 7 pm, and the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars on Saturday at 3 pm.

The Bearcats have also achieved a program best start in GLVC play, as they are currently undefeated in conference action and sit atop the Central Division standings. They are averaging over 13 kills per set as a team and hitting .204. McKendree is holding its opponents to 11.27 kills per set and a .145 hitting percentage, which are both good enough for top five in the conference.

Senior Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) has had an excellent year so far, and just recorded her fifth double-double of the season (26 kills, 18 digs) in a four-set win over Drury on Tuesday night. The outside hitter from San Diego, CA is currently leading the GLVC in kills, putting away 253 for an average of 4.60 per set. Williams is also fourth for the Bearcats in digs, averaging 2.42 per set, and has collected 36 total blocks.

Senior Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) is fourth in the GLVC in kills per set, averaging 3.65 for a total of 201 on the year. The right-side hitter from Tomball, TX is second for the Bearcats in digs, compiling 189 along with 33 blocks.  Junior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) is putting together a career record year, averaging 10.4 assists per set, placing her fourth in the conference at the moment. The Mt. Vernon, IA native is also top five for McKendree in kills, digs, and blocks.

The Bearcats have been unstoppable as of late at the net, and are ranked second in the GLVC in blocks per set as a team (2.35). Senior Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) and sophomore Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) are both ranked in the conference top ten individually in blocking. Lorenz has totaled a team leading 65 blocks, to go with 60 kills. Marks has achieved 55 total blocks, and is ranked third on the team in kills, averaging 1.37 per set.

Sophomore Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) leads the Bearcats defensively, averaging more than four digs per set, earning 235 on the year. Outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) has contributed well in her first season with McKendree, earning 46 kills and 104 digs. Another freshman, Kamryn Carter (Brentwood,TN/Brentwood), has played in 10 out of 15 matches, averaging 1.22 kills per set, and added 32 digs.

McKendree reached another program first this week, as they received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. Both matches this weekend can be live streamed at http://glvcsn.com/.
 

Opponents at a glance

Quincy Hawks (3-13, 2-6 GLVC)
The Hawks are coming off of a five-set win over Missouri S&T on Tuesday night, ending a four match losing streak. The Hawks have a lot of depth on defense, and are ranked second in the GLVC in digs per set as a team. Junior libero Marissa Gonzalez is currently fourth in the conference in digs, averaging 5.20 per set, and has 57 assists.

Outside hitter Bekah Raebel is leading Quincy in kills, with an average of 2.76 per set. The senior from Waterford, WI is also third on the team in digs, collecting 124 along with 29 total blocks. Junior outside hitter Taylor McMonagle is second behind Raebel in kills, with 133. The Green Bay, WI native is also strong on the defensive end, averaging four digs per set, for a total of 256 so far this season.

The Hawks play two setters in sophomore Sara Rathbun and senior Miranda Rodriguez. Rathbun has recorded 312 assists for an average of 5.57 per set, and is averaging 1.96 digs per set. Rodriguez has earned 227 assists, and is fourth on the team in digs, averaging 2.31 per set.

Senior middle blocker Jessica Licurgo has put down 113 kills, and 61 total blocks. Another senior middle blocker for the Hawks, Fenton, MI native Bobbie Eastman, has contributed 105 kills of her own, and added 24 total blocks.

This is the second meeting this season between the Bearcats and the Hawks, with McKendree winning in five sets on September 9^th.
 
Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars (10-6, 4-3 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars defeated Truman State for the first time in program history on Tuesday, sweeping the Bulldogs 3-0. They have gotten off to a much better start compared to last season, when they went 5-11 in their first 16 games, and can attribute that to a top five showing in blocking and hitting percentage in the conference.

Junior middle Alyssa Hassler is leading UIS in kills and blocks. Her average of 1.41 blocks per set also leads the GLVC. The South Bend, IN native is hitting .346 with 151 kills. Junior outside hitter Taylor Bauer is averaging 2.55 kills per set, and has contributed 47 digs and 28 total blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Alli Splitt has put away 109 kills, and added 35 total blocks.

Senior Ally Vicsik has been a solid libero for the Prairie Stars, averaging 4.16 digs per set. Outside hitter Jailyn Borum is second on the team in digs, with 189. The sophomore from Sterling, IL has also recorded 107 kills, for an average of 1.98 per set. Freshman outside hitter Kenzie Hendon has earned 113 digs this season, placing her third on the team in that category.

Tiffany Wentworth and Lexi Hall have been splitting time at the setter position. Wentworth leads UIS in assists, totaling 311, along with 92 digs. Hall is averaging a team best 5.61 assists per set, as well as 1.59 digs per set. Freshman middle hitter Brianna Bush has put down 101 kills to go along with 44 digs and 35 total blocks. Another freshman for the prairie stars, Erin Ripple, is fifth in kills, averaging 1.94 per set.

McKendree has dominated the series, winning their last 9 matches against the Prairie Stars.