(Lebanon, Ill., Nov. 6) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team will finish up its 2017 regular season schedule with three Great Lakes Valley Conference matches at the Statham Sports Center in Lebanon. On Tuesday at 7 pm, they will face the University of Missouri St. Louis, a team they defeated 3-1 two weeks ago. They will then host the University of Illinois Springfield Friday evening on Girl Scout Night, with game time also at 7 pm. The Bearcats will close out the regular season with senior day on Saturday, taking on the Quincy University Hawks at 3 pm.

The Bearcats suffered their first conference loss last Friday to #3 Lewis in a five-set thriller, and then rebounded on Saturday, defeating the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers in Kenosha, WI. They are 20-6 overall, and lead the GLVC Central Division with a conference record of 14-1. McKendree was ranked #2 in the first Division II Midwest Regional Poll that came out on Wednesday.

Senior outside hitter Arela Williams continues to lead the GLVC in kills per set, averaging 4.44, and has collected 273 digs. Her fellow senior, Amanda Geiger, is averaging 3.74 kills per set, to go with 351 digs. Sophomore Kelly Voss has stepped into the libero position, and is averaging over four digs per set. Junior setter Morgan Melchert surpassed 1,000 assists on the season last weekend, and is ranked fourth in that category in the conference.
 
Missouri St. Louis Tritons (20-7, 10-6 GLVC)
The Tritons have won three matches in a row, against Maryville, Indianapolis and Southern Indiana. They have been playing solid defensively, and are ranked in the conference top five in opponent kills (11.31 per set) and opponent hitting percentage (.149), and are currently in third place in the GLVC Central Division.

A pair of sophomore outside hitters, in Selena Nolte and Kylie Rudsinski, lead UMSL in kills, combining for a total of 603 on the season. Senior libero Danielle Waedekin is the top defender for the Tritons, as she is ranked in the top ten in the GLVC in digs, averaging 4.87 per set. Junior Alex Miner is hitting .305 on the year, and leads UMSL in blocks, with 82 total. Senior setter Madyson Abeyta has posted 711 assists and 32 service aces, and is the reigning GLVC Offensive Player of the Week.

The Bearcats have won their last five matches against the Tritons, including a four-set victory last month in St. Louis.
 
Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars (20-8, 11-4 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars are on a roll as of late, and have won nine straight matches dating back to October 13^th. They are ranked in the top five in the GLVC in kills (13.88 per set) and hitting percentage (.236), and are second in the Central Division behind McKendree. They are currently ranked tenth in the Division II Midwest Regional Poll that came out last Wednesday.

Outside hitter Taylor Bauer and middle blocker Alyssa Hasler lead the Prairie Stars in kills, combining for 525 total this season. Hasler is first in the GLVC in blocks, averaging 1.38 total blocks per set, and is also hitting a blistering .370. Sophomore Jailyn Borum leads Springfield in digs, averaging just under four per set, while junior setter Tiffany Wentworth has recorded 758 assists.

The Bearcats have won their last ten meetings with the Prairie Stars, including a four-set victory in Springfield, IL last month.
 
 
Quincy Hawks (7-20, 4-12 GLVC)
The Hawks have lost four GLVC matches in a row, and sit in fourth place in the Central Division. They are currently ranked second in the conference in digs per set, averaging an impressive 19.13 per set as a team.

Senior right-side hitter Bekah Raebel is ranked in the GLVC top ten for kills, averaging 3.13 per set. Junior libero Marissa Gonzalez is third in the conference in digs, averaging 5.47 per set. Senior middle blocker Jessica Licurgo has put down 103 total blocks, while junior outside hitter Taylor McMonagle is second on the team in both kills and digs, with 205 and 403 respectively.

This will mark the third meeting between the Bearcats and the Hawks this season, with McKendree winning the first two matches.