(Lebanon, Ill., Sept. 20) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team continues Great Lakes Valley Conference action on the road in Missouri. They will travel to Rolla on Friday, to take on the Missouri S&T Miners, and will then head north for a date with the Truman State Bulldogs on Saturday. The Bearcats are currently on a five-game winning streak, and enter this weekend with an overall record of 6-3, and 1-0 in the GLVC.
Senior outside hitter
Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) is coming off of a career performance in a four-set victory against the University of Indianapolis last Thursday, in which she set a personal game-high best of 33 kills. Williams currently leads the GLVC in kills, averaging 4.50 per set. She is third on the Bearcats in blocks, with 21 total, and fourth in digs, averaging 2.62 per set.
Senior right-side hitter
Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) is second on the team in kills, averaging 3.25 per set, and also second in digs, with 101. Sophomore libero
Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) has reached double-digit digs in 8 of the Bearcats 9 matches, and leads the team with 4.50 per set. Voss also leads McKendree with 8 service aces on the year.
Junior setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) ranks fourth in the GLVC in assists, averaging 9.97 per set. Melchert is hitting .379 with 25 kills, and is third on the team in digs, with 97. Senior middle blocker
Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) is the Bearcats leader at the net, picking up 37 total blocks so far this season, along with 36 kills.
Sophomore middle blocker
Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) has contributed 31 total blocks and 39 kills. Freshmen
Kamryn Carter (Brentwood,TN/Brentwood) and
Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) have both been solid, with Carter ranked in the top five on the team in kills, and Russell ranked in the top five on the team in digs.
Friday's match has a start time of 7 pm, while Saturday's match will begin at 3 pm. You can watch both matches live on the GLVC Sports Network.
Opponents at a Glance
Missouri S&T Miners (4-7) (0-2, GLVC)
The Miners have a balanced attack, with six players recording more than 70 kills individually so far this season. Sophomore Emilee Schlader leads S&T in kills, averaging 3.30 per set, placing her in the top 10 in the GLVC. She has also collected 70 digs and 11 blocks. Sophomore Kyley Thompson is second in kills, with 85, while senior Claire Friedlund is second in kills per set, averaging 2.85. Friedlund is also second in digs per set, averaging 2.73, and first in aces, with 7. Junior Carson Talley is hitting .250 (78 kills, 30 errors, 192 attempts), and is second in blocks on the team, with 35.
The Miners are third as a team in the GLVC in digs per set, and are led by sophomore Corinne Stulce, who has contributed 192 (4.68 per set). Sophomore Eva Mich and Freshman Sarah McGinnis are tied for second on the team, with 95 digs each. McGinnis is also the top setter for S&T, with 252 assists on the season. Freshman Calla Meyer is second in the GLVC in blocks per set, averaging 1.22 from 39 total blocks.
The Miners and Bearcats have played six times, with McKendree leading the overall series 4-2.
Truman State Bulldogs (4-6) (0-1, GLVC)
The Bulldog offense is led by senior Jasmine Brown, who is first on the team in kills, with 73 (2.70 per set). She is also second in digs per set, averaging 3.15. Junior Natalie Brimeyer is second in kills, with 69, and is hitting .331 (69 kills, 18 errors, 164 attempts). She also leads the GLVC in blocks per set, averaging 1.24. Freshman Sam Yancy is second on the team in kills per set, averaging 2.62.
Sophomore Lauren Wacker leads Truman State in digs, averaging 4.50 per set, and has earned 11 aces. Another sophomore, Meaghan Gasper, has contributed 79 digs and has also earned 11 aces. Junior setter Savvy Hughes leads the Bulldogs in assists, with 292, service aces, with 14, and is second on the team in total digs, with 103 (3.03 per set).
The Bulldogs and Bearcats have played eight times, with Truman State leading the overall series 6-2.
