(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 20) - The McKendree University women's volleyball team defeated Truman State University in a five set thriller, 3-2. The Bearcats improve to 14-10 overall on the season and 8-4 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play. 

McKendree took the first set 25-19 over the Bulldogs but began to falter lat in the second set. Truman State managed a 25-19 win over the Bearcats in the second and with momentum on their side the Bulldogs took the third set 25-20. The Bearcats fought point for point against Truman State in the fourth but came out on the right side of the set with a 25-23 win that forced a fifth set. McKendree's offense came alive in the fifth set to overpower the Bulldogs and take the set 15-11 and clinch the 3-2 conference victory.  

Freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) led the offensive efforts for the Bearcats with 20 recorded kills. Junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) was a force to be reckoned with for the Bearcats with 11 kills on 23 total attempts and only one error to earn a .435 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) had a notable 10 kills for McKendree. In the five set match, senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) assisted the Bearcats 51 times while recording three kills of her own.

Defensive efforts were led by Voss who had 18 digs recorded, junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) was next with 14, and Melchert was close behind with 13. At the net for the Bearcats defense was Marks who had two block solos and five block assists. Freshman outside hitter McKenna ross was next at the net for McKendree recording five block solos. Gramly followed suit with three block solos and one block assist. 

The Bearcats will return to action on Tuesday Oct. 23 at home in the Harry Statham Sports Center to start their last home game stretch against Bellarmine University at 5 p.m.