(Lebanon, Ill., Sept. 6) -- The McKendree University women's volleyball team travels to the Quincy University Invitational this weekend to play four matches during the two-day tournament in Quincy, IL. On Friday, they will match-up against the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats at 2 PM and the Wayne State University Warriors at 7 PM. Then on Saturday, they will take on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons at 2 PM and fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference opponent, the Quincy University Hawks, at 7 PM.

The Bearcats are coming off of a 1-3 start to their season at the Concordia University Labor Day Invitational in Irvine, CA last weekend. They were swept in three sets by California Baptist University and Winona State University on Friday, and then split a pair of matches on Saturday, sweeping California State University Stanislaus and falling to Concordia University Irvine in four sets.

Senior outside hitter Arela Williams (San Diego, CA/LaJolla Country Day) led the Bearcats offensively, averaging 3.23 kills per set on the weekend, placing her 7^th in the GLVC in that statistic. She earned double digit kills in 3 of the 4 matches, including a personal game-high 13 against Winona State. Defensively, Williams contributed 22 digs (1.69 per set) and nine blocks. Her performance earned Williams a spot on the all-tournament team.

Senior right side hitter Amanda Geiger (Tomball, TX/Concordia Lutheran) finished the weekend ranked second on the team in kills, averaging 2.77 per set. She led the Bearcats in kills versus California Baptist, recording ten, a number she matched versus Winona State and Concordia Irvine. Geiger added 4 service aces and 37 digs, averaging 2.85 per set.

Junior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) compiled 110 assists in Irvine, averaging 8.46 per set, which is currently good enough for sixth overall in the GLVC. Melchert also averaged 3.00 digs per set, which places her second on the team. Leading the team in digs was sophomore outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei), who averaged 4.00 per set, earning a personal game-high of 16 twice, against Winona State and Concordia Irvine. Voss also recorded seven assists and three service aces on the weekend.

At the net, McKendree was led by senior middle blocker Carissa Lorenz (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) and sophomore middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown). Lorenz collected a total of 15 blocks, leading the Bearcats in that category. She also put down 18 kills, ranking her fourth on the team. Marks was second in blocks with 12, including a Bearcats single-game high of 7 against Stanislaus State. She also led the team in hitting percentage (.231%) and added 16 kills.

The freshman class was represented by outside hitter Kamryn Carter (Brentwood,TN/Brentwood), who compiled 19 kills, 14 digs and 5 blocks in her debut appearances as a Bearcat. Her 12 kills against Concordia Irvine led the team in that match.

It will be the first meeting for McKendree women's volleyball against Wayne State (MI) and Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats last played Minnesota State Moorhead in 2013, losing in four sets in the schools only previous contest. They have played Quincy six times since joining the NCAA, and lead the overall series 4-2.

You can follow and watch all four of the Bearcats matches this weekend by going to http://www.glvcsn.com/quincy/.
 
 
ABOUT NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
-started the 2017 season last weekend at the Ferris State Invitational, going 1-3

Key Players
Maddy Bruder, junior, Outside Hitter -- leads the Bearcats in kills with 47 (2.76 per set).. is second on the team in digs (42) and third in blocks (10)

Olivia Nowakowski, junior, Libero -- leads the Bearcat defense with 77 digs (4.53 per set).. is first on the team in service aces with 4
 

ABOUT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
-began their 2017 campaign at home, finishing 3-1 in the Detroit Warrior Invitational

Key Players
Hailey Richardson, junior, Outside Hitter -- leads the Warriors offense in kills with 55 (3.93 per set) and service aces with 6... is second on the team in digs with 36 (2.57 per set)

Natalie Breault, RS freshman, Setter – in charge of running the Warrior offense.. has collected 106 assists (9.64 per set)
 

ABOUT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MOORHEAD
-kicked off 2017 with a perfect 4-0 record at the Minot State Classic last weekend in South Dakota

Key Players
Kaylyn Jenkins, sophomore, Middle Blocker – leads the Dragons in kills with 54 (3.38 per set) and hitting percentage (.368%).. is second on the team in blocks with 14 total

Monica Vega, junior, Libero – leads the Dragons in digs with 92 (5.75 per set)
 

ABOUT QUINCY UNIVERSITY (host)
-opened 2017 at the Ferris State Invitational in Big Rapids, MI, finishing 0-4

Key Players
Taylor McMonagle, junior, Outside Hitter – leads the Hawks in kills with 35 (2.19 per set) and service aces with 7.. is second on the team in digs with 61 (3.81 per set)

Jessica Licurgo, senior, Middle Blocker – leads the Hawks at the net with 19 total blocks and is first in hitting percentage (.304%).. is fourth on the team in kills with 23