(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 8) – The McKendree women's volleyball team falls to the University of Illinois Springfield in its Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opener, 3-0. The Bearcats will return home to face University of Southern Indiana next Tuesday to open GLVC play at home at 7 p.m.

The Bearcats started slow the first set finding themselves down 4-0 to the Prairie Stars and despite late efforts lost 25-18. McKendree and Illinois Springfield maintained a close score in the second set until the Bearcats went on a three-point run with back to back kills from junior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) to take a 20-18 lead but they weren't able to hold on and Illinois Springfield pulled ahead to take the set 25-23. The Bearcats came out energized in the third set as they opened with back to back kills from sophomore outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) and then went on a five-point run to take an early 9-2 lead. After a late surge from the Prairie Stars McKendree found themselves in a gridlock with UIS ultimately ending in 29-27 loss.

McKendree gave a well-rounded team performance in spite of the UIS sweep. Defensive efforts were shared amongst five Bearcats. Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) had 12 digs, while Voss, senior setter Morgan Melchert (Mt. Vernon, IA/Mt. Vernon), and junior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) were close behind with 9 digs each, and freshman libero Annika Beal (Belleville, IL/Althoff Catholic) had a notable 7 digs for the Bearcats.

Voss recorded a season high with her 19 kills to lead the offensive efforts for the Bearcats. Russell and junior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) had strong offensive performances as well. Russell recorded 10 kills and Marks had 8.

After next Tuesday's home match against UIS, the Bearcats' next match will be against William Jewell College on Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in Liberty, Mo.