(LEBANON, Ill., Sept 27) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team will host No. 10 Drury University on Friday at 7 p.m. and then Missouri S&T Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Harry Statham Sports Center.
The Bearcats are 8-7 on the season and 4-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play. McKendree rose in the conference rankings after sweeping Maryville Unviersity 3-0 last Friday and defeating University of Missouri-St. Louis the following afternoon in a thrilling five set match.
Freshman middle blocker
Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) leads the offensive efforts for the Bearcats with 188 kills on the season, junior outside hitter
Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) is a close second with 182, and sophomore outside hitter
Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) provides strong support with her 163 kills. Senior setter
Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon) continues to rack up assists while growing her career assist record with 605 on the season thus far.
At the net defensively for the Bearcats, junior middle blocker
Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) has 61 total blocks so far this 2018 campaign. Gramly leads in solo blocks with eight recorded for the season and isn't far behind Marks with 52 total blocks. Voss leads the back line in digs with 180 on record, junior libero
Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) is next with 175, and Russell puts in valid effort with 165 on the season. Melchert with 142 digs and freshman libero
Annika Beal (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) with 146 digs are also key contributors to McKendree's defense.
After this weekend at home, the Bearcats will travel to Missouri-St. Louis on Tuesday Oct. 2 for a 7 p.m. conference match in St. Louis, Mo.
About Drury University:
The Panthers are 13-2 on the season and currently sit at first place this week in the GLVC rankings with a 6-0 record. Drury's offensive leaders are senior right side Bentley Mara who has 203 kills on the season, senior outside hitter Emmalee Chrest who has 157, and junior middle blocker Evan Larson with 94. Defensively at the net for the Panthers are sophomore middle blocker Taylor Forth who has 53 total blocks and Larson who has 51. The back line is held together by sophomore libero Bree Schmidt's 312 digs, junior setter Kendra Sater's 173, and sophomore defensive specialist Kayla Allison's 138.
About Missouri S&T:
The Miners are 10-5 on the season and 3-3 in the GLVC. Missouri S&T's offensive leaders are junior outside hitter Emilee Schlader with 213 kills, senior outside hitter Carlie Combs with 165, and senior right side Ellen Schulz with 82 kills on the season. Defensively at the net for the Miners are freshman middle hitter Kiernan O'Boyle who has 57 total blocks and junior middle hitter Caroline Dykes who has 45 total blocks thus far. The back line is held together by junior libero Corinne Stulce's 274 digs, junior defensive specialist Eva Mich's 144, and Combs' 135.
