(LEBANON, Ill., - Sept. 22) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team defeated the University of Missouri-St. Louis in a five set match, 3-2. The Bearcats overall record is 8-7 on the season and 4-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition.

McKendree started off strong with a 7-1 lead but the Tritons performed strongly at the net late in the first set to come back and win 25-20. The Bearcats came out with vengeance and defeated Missouri-St. Louis 25-23 in both the second and third set but the tritons were able to push through the strong Bearcat defense and take the fourth set 25-20. McKendree left it all out on the court in the fifth set to take down Missouri-St. Louis, 15-8 and gain the 3-2 victory.

Junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) recorded a season high 21 kills in the match. Another strong offensive player for the Bearcats was freshman middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper), who obtained 18 kills on the day. Senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) assisted the Bearcats 49 times throughout the match. McKendree also had five aces on the day.

The Bearcats were strong at the net defensively with junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) leading the efforts. Marks had eight total blocks on the day, tying her season high. Melchert proved to be a strong presence at the net with five blocks and both junior middle blocker Baily Craig (Aurora, NE/Giltner) and sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) were close behind with four blocks each.

Defensive efforts in the back line were led by junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West)s' 18 digs. Russell was next with 15 and both Voss and freshman libero Annika Beal (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) proved to be vital to the Bearcats' defense with 13 digs each.

McKendree will return to action next weekend with another back-to-back home GLVC matches. The Bearcats will take on Drury University on Friday Sept 28 at 7 p.m. and then Missouri S&T the following day at 3 p.m.