(Lebanon, Ill., August 31) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team opens the 2017 season this weekend at the Concordia University Labor Day Invitational in Irvine, CA. The Bearcats will play four matches during the two-day tournament. They will take on California Baptist University and Winona State University on Friday, Sept. 1, then on Saturday, Sept. 2 they will play against California State Stanislaus and Concordia University Irvine.

The Bearcats are led by senior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day), who ranked first for the Bearcats last season in both kills, with 455 and digs, with 392. Williams was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference player of the year as a sophomore in 2015, and has been named to the All-GLVC First Team two years in a row.

McKendree has two other seniors who they will be relying on this season in middle blocker Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) and right side hitter Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran). Lorenz led the 2016 team in blocks with 109 and put down 125 kills while Geiger ranked fourth on the team in kills with 251.

At the setter positon, junior Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) will be expected to run the offense. She is the returning leader in assists from last season, recording 637. Sophomore libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) ranked second on the 2016 team in digs, collecting 364. The Bearcats will also be reliant on a large freshman class which includes six athletes.

Nickie Sanlin is entering her fourth year as the McKendree women's volleyball head coach. The Bearcats finished last season 23-10 overall with a 16-2 record in GLVC play, and made it to the GLVC tournament championship game. All four of the matches this weekend can be streamed live online at portal.stretchinternet.com/cui/.
 

ABOUT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
2016 record: 20-9 (15-5 in the Pacwest)
Key Returners
Lauren Hackett, Senior, Outside Hitter: led the 2016 Lancers in kills with 492 and is the returning leader in both digs (283) and blocks (77)
Sydney Kralj, Senior, Setter: set the tone for the 2016 Lancers offense with 1132 assists
 
ABOUT WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY
2016 record: 27-7 (16-4 in the NSIC)
Key Returners
Taylor Goar, Senior, Outside Hitter: led the 2016 Warriors in kills with 410
Danielle Rampart, Senior, Outside Hitter: ranked second on the 2016 team in kills with 312 and is the returning leader in digs (394)
 
ABOUT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, STANISLAUS
2016 record: 14-15 (10-8 in the CCAA)
Key Returners
Daryan Heathcott, Senior, Middle Blocker: returning leader in kills (115) and blocks (35)
Hailey Gruetzmacher, Senior, Libero: returning leader in digs (299)
 
ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE (host)
2016 record: 26-3 (17-3 in the Pacwest)
Key Returners
Rachel Flynn, Senior, Outside Hitter: led the 2016 Eagles in kills with 438 and is the returning leader in digs (276)
Amber Rose, Senior, Middle Blocker: led the 2016 Eagles in blocks with 139