(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 15) – The McKendree women's volleyball team lost in three sets to no. 12 Rockhurst University. The Bearcats are 6-7 on the season and 2-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

McKendree started the match strong but the Hawks had a late surge to propel them over the Bearcats 25-23. Even though McKendree opened up the second set with a lead over Rockhurst they weren't able to hold on to it as the Hawks fought back to win 25-21. The momentum remained with Rockhurst into the third set which the Hawks won 25-19.

The Bearcats' offensive efforts were spread out across the front line. Freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) obtained nine kills in the match. Junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) and sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) were one behind with eight kills each. Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) extended her assist record as she added 32 more in the match. She now has a total of 3,065 career assists.

Junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) performed strong at the net accumulating six blocks for the Bearcats' defense. Voss and Gramly were also valuable players for the defense at the net with three blocks each.  The back line was held together by junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack's (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) 15 digs. Other notable contributors for the Bearcats are Voss with 11 digs and freshman libero Annika Beal (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) with eight.

The Bearcats will return home to face Maryville University on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., and then University of Missouri-St. Louis the following day, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m.