(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 2) - The McKendree University women's volleyball team fell to Bellarmine University 3-0 in Louisville, Ky., Friday night. The Bearcats are now 15-14 overall on the season and 9-8 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition. 

McKendree and Bellarmine were neck-and-neck to open up the match going point-for-point, but the Knights managed an eight-point run and were able to win the first set 25-14. The second set started in the same manner but Bellarmine was able to pull away again and take the second set, 25-17. With momentum on the Knights side they were able to win the third set as well, 25-16 and take the match 3-0.

Offensive leaders for McKendree were junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei), freshman right side McKenna Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), and junior middle blocker Baily Craig (Aurora, NE/Giltner). Voss obtained nine kills on the night while Ross and Craig each had five. Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) managed 21 assists in the three set match.

Sophomore libero Alex Tinnin (Festus, MO/Festus) recorded 11 digs to lead the defensive efforts for the Bearcats. Voss and outside hitter Gracie Marr (Castle Rock, CO/Castle View) were also key players for McKendree's defense, Voss with seven digs and Marr with six. At the nets for the Bearcats' defense was junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) who had three total blocks recorded on the night. 

McKendree will finish out its 2018 regular season Saturday at the University of Southern Indiana at 3 p.m. Depending on finalized seeding with the GLVC, the Bearcats will continue on to post-season tournament play next weekend.