(Springfield, Ill., Oct. 7) -- The McKendree women's volleyball team improved to 14-3 on the season with a 3-1 road win over the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars on Saturday afternoon. The GLVC Central Division leaders have now won 13 matches in a row, and remain undefeated in conference play. It is also the Bearcats tenth straight victory against Illinois Springfield.

The Bearcats were once again led by senior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day), who recorded a team high 26 kills, and added nine digs. It is her third straight match with twenty or more kills, and she was one dig shy from a seventh double-double for the year.

Senior Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) led the Bearcats in digs, with 24, and put down 16 kills. She also led McKendree in blocking, with six total rejections at the net. Sophomore Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) contributed 21 digs, while Freshman Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) had 16. Junior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) collected 44 assists, to go along with 19 digs.

The first set was dominated by the Prairie Stars, as they hit .279 as a team and were led by Alli Splitt, who recorded five kills on route to a 25-13 win. The second started out as a back and forth battle, with both teams drawing to a 15 all tie. McKendree then seized the momentum with a string of three points, and took the set 25-19, with an Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) kill making it official.

The third set started out similarly to the previous, with the Bearcats and Prairie Stars trading points, and finding themselves tied up 18-18. McKendree once again found the upper hand, going on a 6-2 run to earn four set points, of which they only need one.

Illinois Springfield, in a must win situation, grabbed an early fourth set lead at 15-10. The Bearcats answered back, going on an 8-1 scoring run to earn their first lead of the set since they led 3-2 early on.

McKendree would find themselves down 22-21, but Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) then put away three kills in a row, giving the Bearcats two match points. On their second match point opportunity, the Bearcats closed the door on the Prairie Stars, and took the match in come from behind fashion, three sets to one.

The Bearcats will now take their 13-match win streak into the Midwest Region Crossover Tournament, which takes place Oct. 13-14 in Aurora, IL. They will play three matches there, with their opponents to be announced later in the week.