(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 23) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team lost in a five set thriller to Bellarmine University Tuesday. The Bearcats are now 14-11 overall on the season and 8-5 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition.

McKendree fell to the Knights in the first set 25-21 and then 25-11 in the second. After regrouping in between sets, the Bearcats rallied as a team in the third set to defeat Bellarmine 25-23. McKendree was then able to use that momentum in the fourth set to defeat the Knights 25-21 and force a fifth set. It wasn't enough to clinch the comeback win as Bellarmine won the fifth set 15-6 to beat McKendree 3-2.

Freshman outside hitter McKenna Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) set a personal season high with 15 kills to lead the Bearcats' offense. Junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) and freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) also played key offensive roles, Voss with 12 kills and Gramly with 11. Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) set McKendree up 43 times in the five set match.

Defensively, junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West), Voss, and sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) were stand out leaders. Zeitelhack recorded 16 digs, Voss recorded 15, and Russell had nine. At the net for the Bearcats' defense was Gramly with four total blocks and junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) with three total blocks.

McKendree will return to action this Friday at the Harry Statham Sports Center at 7 p.m. to take on the University of Indianapolis for Alumni Night.