(EAST PEORIA, Ill., Nov. 8) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team fell to No. 14 Drury University 3-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship Tournament Quarterfinals Thursday despite leading the Panthers in total kills. The Bearcats finish their 2018 season with an overall record of 16-15.

McKendree found themselves down 18-10 in the first set but a spark ignited with a freshman outside hitter  McKenna Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek) kill to start off a seven-point run for the Bearcats. The run included a career best for junior defensive specialist Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) who recorded three service aces in one set. Despite the late rally, the Panthers prevailed and took the first set 25-21.

The Bearcats came out with vengeance in the second set. In a six point-span in the beginning of the second set, freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) recorded four kills for the Bearcats taking the offensive leader role accumulating nine total kills in the set. An impressive 20 out of the 26 points for McKendree were earned by Bearcat kills. McKendree's team efforts pushed Drury to extra points but the Panthers were able to take the second set 28-26.

The third set began in similar manner to the first two with back and forth rally play. Junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) started the match off with a solo block for the Bearcats offense and then put up two kills for McKendree putting the Bearcats up 3-2 over Drury. The Panthers were able to go on a three-point run due to McKendree attack errors and keep the lead for the remainder of the set despite the Bearcats putting up a strong team effort. The Panthers clinched the match victory with a 25-21 win in the third set.

Offensive leaders for the Bearcats were Gramly, junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei), and Ross. Gramly put up a personal best 16 kills in a three set match this season. Voss was next with 10 kills and Ross was right behind with nine recorded kills. Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) set up the Bearcat offense 38 times in the three set match.

Libero Alex Tinnin (Festus, MO/Festus) led the defensive efforts for McKendree with 19 recorded digs. Next for the defense was Melchert with 12 digs. Sophomore Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) and Zeitelhack were also key defensive contributors for the Bearcats, Russell with seven digs and Zeitelhack with six. At the net defensively for McKendree was Marks and Gramly. Marks had four total blocks in the match and Gramly was close behind with three total blocks.