(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 30) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team swept Maryville University 3-0 on Tuesday. The Bearcats improve to 15-13 overall on the season and 9-7 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play.

McKendree was dominate in the first set earning 16 points from kills alone in the 25-19 victory over Maryville. The momentum carried into the second set and the Bearcats managed to record 17 kills in the 25-19 win over the Saints. McKendree continued the strong team play in the third set and ended the match with four straight kills to take down the Saints 25-11 and 3-0 in the match.

The freshman exploded in this match for the Bearcats' offense with outside hitter McKenna Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) and middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) leading the efforts. Ross had an impressive 13 kills in the three set match to accumulate a .450 hitting percentage, a personal best. Gramly tallied 11 kills in the match to help power the Bearcat offense. Junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) and junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) were also key offense players for McKendree, each recording seven kills. Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) put up 37 assists in the match.

Defensive leaders for the Bearcats were sophomore defensive specialist Alex Tinnin (Festus, MO/Festus), Melchert, and Voss. Tinnin recorded 11 digs while Melchert and Voss each recorded eight. Four Bearcats put up large blocking numbers for the defense with 14 total blocks for McKendree in the short three set match. Gramly and junior middle blocker Baily Craig (Aurora, NE/Giltner) each had four total blocks on the night while Ross and Marks each had three for the defense.

The Bearcats will return to GLVC action on Friday in Louisville, Ky., as they take on Bellarmine University at 7 p.m. They will then travel to Evansville, Ind., for their final regular season match against the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday at 3 p.m.