(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 1) – The McKendree women's volleyball team fell to Eckerd College 3-2 in the first match then came back to beat Flagler College 3-2 on the second day of the Bahama House Labor Day Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. to finish the tournament with an overall 2-2 record Saturday.  

The Bearcats started the day off strong with a 25-14 win in set one against Eckerd College. McKendree put in the work to take the second set 25-18 but then the momentum shifted in Eckerd's favor as they took the third set 25-16. The Bearcats then fell in the fourth set 25-18 and couldn't hold on in set five as the Tritons prevailed 15-13 to win the match 3-2 over the Bearcats.

Freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) put up strong numbers for the McKendree's offense with 22 kills in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) and junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) proved to be dual threats for the Bearcats with each of them recording double digit kills and digs. Russell had 14 kills and 16 digs while Voss had 13 kills and 15 digs. Junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) led McKendree's defense with 18 digs in the match.

It was a rocky start for the Bearcats in the second match against Flagler College as they found themselves to be down 0-2 after losing set one 25-21 and the second set 25-22.

McKendree found themselves down 7-3 to start out set three but went on a seven-point run to turn the tables and take a 10-7 lead over the Lions. Back and forth play presumed but the Bearcats won the set 25-23 off of a block assist from Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) and junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown).

The Bearcats started the fourth set neck and neck with Flagler but pulled away on a four-point run to take the 13-8 lead and force a Lion timeout. The run included kills from senior middle blocker Baily Craig (Aurora, NE/Giltner) and Voss as well as a block assist from Gramly and Craig. McKendree tied the match up 2-2 with a service ace from Zeitelhack to win set four 25-19.

McKendree exploded on a seven-point run to finish out set five and beat Flagler College 15-8 to win the match 3-2. The run included kills from Voss, Gramly, and Craig as well as a block assist by Gramly and Craig. The Bearcats managed an overall 2-2 record for the Bahama House Labor Day Classic.

The next game for McKendree will be its home opener against Lindenwood University on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. The Bearcats first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) match up will be the following day, Sept. 8, against University of Illinois Springfield in Springfield, Ill. at 3 p.m.