(Lebanon, Ill., Sept. 14) --The Mckendree women's volleyball team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Thursday night, with a four-set victory over the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds in front of a rowdy home crowd (24-26, 26-24, 25-19, 26-24). With the win, the Bearcats improve to 6-3 on the season, and 1-0 in the GLVC.

Senior Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) was dominant for the Bearcats, earning a career-high in kills with 33, hitting .438. Her previous record was 30, which she achieved as a freshman in a match versus Missouri St. Louis. She contributed for more than half of her team's total kills. Sophomore Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) matched her season high in digs, collecting 24, while senior Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) added 12 kills and 15 digs in the winning effort. The Bearcats won the battle at the net, outblocking the Greyhounds 30-16, with help from senior Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) and sophomore Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown).

In the first set, Indianapolis opened-up a 13-9 lead off a four-point run. The Bearcats battled back, tying the set at 21 all with help from a kill by freshman Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X). Both teams traded points late, until Rachel Irbe put away a kill, giving the Greyhounds their second set point, which they cashed in on to take the first set 26-24.

The second set was closely contested, as it was tied early on at 12. Then Indianapolis broke it open, going on a 7-1 scoring run to take an 18-12 lead. The Bearcats answered back following a time out, taking the momentum with a 5-1 run of their own. An Anna Fehribach kill gave the Greyhounds a set point at 24-21, but once again McKendree fought back, scoring the last five points of the second to tie the match at one set a-piece. Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) put down 12 kills in the set to help the Bearcats even up the score.

In the third set, McKendree grabbed the momentum early, earning the first four points, on their way to an 18-12 advantage. They never looked back, with an Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) kill sealing the deal.

Indianapolis flipped the script to start the fourth set, building an early five-point lead at 12-7. McKendree stopped the Greyhound momentum quickly, stringing together a 7-1 run, taking their first lead of the set since they scored the opening point. It was an even contest from then on, resulting in a 20-20 deadlock. The Bearcats gritted it out, outscoring Indianapolis 6-4 to end the set, and take the match three sets to one, and increase their current win streak to five games. 

The Bearcats have this weekend off, before heading to Missouri for two GLVC road contests. They will take on the Missouri S&T Miners on Friday, Sept. 22, and the Truman State University Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 23.