Box Score (Romeoville, Ill., Nov. 30) -- The most successful season in the NCAA era for the McKendree University women's volleyball team came to end in the Division II National Tournament on Thursday. The Midwest Region #5 seed Bearcats fell in four sets to the #4 seeded Ferris State University Bulldogs.

In her final match as a Bearcat, Amanda Geiger led McKendree with 16 kills and finishes her career with 1,015 total. Senior Arela Williams ends her illustrious collegiate career with a program leading 1,887 total kills, picking up six in the losing effort.

Junior setter Morgan Melchert recorded 34 assists, bringing her season total to 1,512, while sophomore Kelly Voss paced the Bearcats with 15 digs. Senior middle Carissa Lorenz closed out her time with McKendree volleyball with a team leading five total blocks.

The Bulldogs used an early 7-2 scoring run to open a six point lead in the first set. The Bearcats cut the advantage to just two, but Ferris took 11 of the last 15 points in the set to take it 25-16.

McKendree got off to a quick start in the second set, jumping out to an 8-3 advantage. The Bearcats would carry their early momentum to a close 25-22 set victory.

With Ferris State up 19-13 in the third set, the Bearcats went on a 6-0 scoring run to tie it up at 19 all. The Bulldogs would respond, however, taking the final five points of the set to go up 2-1.

The fourth frame was all Ferris State, as the Bearcats could not get any momentum going, falling 25-11, dropping the match in four sets.

McKendree finishes 2017 at 23-9 overall on the season, in which they finished 16-2 in conference play, winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference Central Division.