(LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 25) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team defeated Bellarmine University, 3-2 on Friday in Louisville, Ky. The Bearcats improve to 11-11 overall on the season and 4-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

McKendree dropped the first set, 25-21 to the Knights but rebounded and recorded a .351 hitting percentage in the second set to win 25-22. The Bearcats attack slipped to a .286 team hitting percentage in the third set, which helped propel Bellarmine to a 25-19 win. McKendree improved and was able to keep the match alive with a 25-23 win in the fourth set. The Bearcats went on to have an explosive fifth set, recording 14 kills for a .591 team hitting percentage to defeat the Knights 15-11.

In the five set victory, four Bearcats recorded double-digit kills. Senior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) led the pack with 16 kills while junior outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X), freshman outside hitter Maddie Misner (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale), and senior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) all tallied 12 kills each.

Senior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West), Misner, and Voss controlled the back line for McKendree, Zeitelhack and Misner with 15 digs each and Voss with 13. At the net for the Bearcats defense was Marks and sophomore outside hitter McKenna Ross (Anthem, AZ/Boulder Creek), both recording five block assists a piece.

McKendree will continue GLVC competition on the road with a match against the University of Indianapolis on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.