(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 12) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team won it's opening match against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponent Davenport University 3-1 then fell to Ashland University, also in the GLIAC, in five sets 3-2. The Bearcats are now 11-10 overall on the season.

McKendree lost to Davenport in the opening set 26-24 but rebounded quickly and were able to overpower the Panthers 25-21 in the second set. With momentum on its side McKendree took the third and the fourth set, 25-23 to beat Davenport 3-1.

Junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) recorded a personal season high of 22 kills in the match against the Panthers, leading the Bearcats' offense. Junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown), freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper), and freshman right side McKenna Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) all had notable offensive efforts for McKendree, Marks with 11 kills and Ross and Gramly each with 10.

Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) also recorded a personal season high in digs with 20 against Davenport. Other Bearcats with strong defensive performances were junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West), sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X), sophomore defensive specialist Alex Tinnin (Festus, MO/Festus), and Voss. Zeitelhack recorded 11 digs while Russell, Tinnin, and Voss all had 10. At the net defensively for McKendree was Marks and junior middle blocker Baily Craig (Aurora, NE/Giltner), Marks with five total blocks and Craig with four.

In the second match of the day, the Bearcats took on the Eagles of Ashland University. McKendree started off strong with a 25-16 victory in the first set and a 25-19 win in the second. Momentum began to shift in the third set and the Eagles were able to defeat the Bearcats 25-20. Ashland then took the fourth set 25-20 as well to force a fifth set. The Bearcats had a late surge but weren't able to overpower Ashland as they took the set 15-10 and the match 3-2.

Gramly led the offensive efforts in the second match with 19 kills. Voss, with 13 kills, and Ross, with 11 kills, were also imperative competitors for the McKendree offense. Melchert set up the Bearcats a total of 51 times in the five-set match.

Defensively for McKendree in the second match was Voss and Zeitelhack. Voss had 15 digs in the match and Zeitelhack had 13. Melchert was a key defensive player as well with nine digs. Gramly was a force to be reckoned with at the net for the Bearcat defense with four solo blocks and three block assists. Marks and Craig were also vital for McKendree's defense at the net with four total blocks each.

The Bearcats will return to the Academy Volleyball Club in Indianapolis, Ind. Saturday for their final Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover match against Malone University at 1:00 p.m. ET.