(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 9) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team defeated Missouri S&T 3-1 on Saturday. The Bearcats improve to 13-14 overall and 6-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

McKendree opened the first set with a six-point run to lead the Miners 9-2. The Bearcats powered through the remainder of the set taking a 25-22 victory. Missouri S&T answered back and claimed the second set 25-17. McKendree was a forced to be reckoned with in the third set recording a .609 team hitting percentage, which helped them earn a 25-18 win over the Miners. The Bearcats remained strong collecting a .345 team hitting percentage in the fourth set to win 25-22 and collect the match 3-1 victory.

Junior outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) was a key offensive player for the Bearcats recording 16 total kills for a .414 hitting percentage. Other strong offensive players for McKendree were senior outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei), sophomore middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper), and freshman outside hitter Maddie Misner (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale). Voss tallied nine kills while both Gramly and Misner recorded eight.

Senior libero Alissa Zeitelhack (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) shined in her final McKendree home match, earning 20 digs to hold the back line strong for the Bearcats' defense. Voss and Misner also played a key role in the defensive efforts, each tallying 12 total digs.

At the net for McKendree's defense was Gramly, Misner, and senior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown). Gramly collected one solo block and seven block assists, Misner earned one solo block and four block assists, and Marks earned four block assists for the Bearcats.

McKendree will close out its regular season on the road with a match against Truman State University on Friday Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. and a match at Quincy University at 3 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 16.