(LEBANON, Ill., Aug. 25) – McKendree University women's volleyball team defeated Walsh University and Cedarville University at the the Capital Classic in Springfield, Ill. The Bearcats improve to 2-2 on the season.

The Bearcats bounce back after two losses on Friday to sweep Walsh 3-0 in match one and then overpowered Cedarville 3-1 in the second match. "It was a great learning lesson for the young group to open with an experience group from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and the reigning Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) champion yesterday," said head coach Nickie Sanlin. "They competed very well all weekend and improved as a team with each point. They started to discover who they are as a group and in their individual roles with each match. I was very impressed how they recovered for two more strong opponents today. It's the first step in the right direction for our young Bearcat squad."

McKendree started off the day with a sweep against Walsh University. The Bearcats took the first set 25-17 and then ran with the momentum to take commanding leads in the next two sets, 25-13 and 25-12.

The first match contained a lot of back and forth play from the Bearcats and the Cavaliers but McKendree took the set with a kill from freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper). With the momentum on their side the Bearcats started the second set with a four-point run and after some rallies went on to have a seven-point run with kills from Gramly, junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown), and sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X). McKendree came out in the third set with confidence and ended it with even more as Marks and junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) blocked a Cavalier attacker to collect the win and take the sweep.

McKendree put up some big numbers in the sweep. Voss proved her wide range skill set as she led the Bearcats in offense with 10 kills and defense with 12 digs. Gramly put in the work too for the offense with her 10 kills. Freshman libero Annika Beal (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) and senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) kept the defense strong as well, each with nine kills.

The Bearcats defeated Cedarville 3-1 in the second match of the day to go undefeated in day two of the Capital Classic. McKendree survived intense rallies in the first set to win, 27-25. The luck turned and the Yellow Jackets took game two, 27-25. McKendree then blew past Cedarville in set three, 25-11 and set four, 25-15.

There were a lot of rallies between the Bearcats and Cedarville in game one but McKendree took the set with a block assist by Gramly and sophomore middle blocker Alexandria Muschong (Woodstock, IL/Woodstock). The Bearcats fell in set two but they went on a notable five-point run with two kills by Gramly and one from Marks. McKendree lit up in set three where they acquired their longest point streak of the tournament with 10 straight and then ended the set on a six-point run with a final kill by Ruseell to take the 2-1 lead over the Yellow Jackets. The Bearcats finished it off with a great team performance ending the match with a Melchert ace.

The strong team performance in match two is solidified with the impressive numbers the Bearcats put up. Gramly powered the offense with her 19 kills. Beal led the defense with 17 digs and Voss was next with 16. Melchert's presence on the court was hard to miss with her 42 assists and 14 digs.  

The Bearcats will continue play on the road next weekend, Aug.31-Sept.1, for the Embry-Riddle Labor Day Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. McKendree will open play on Friday with contests against Bentley University at 1 p.m. ET before facing Florida International University at 5 p.m. ET.