(KENOSHA, Wisc., Sept. 11) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team will compete in the 2019 Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational in Kenosha, Wisc., Sept. 13-14.

The Bearcats will open tournament competition with an 8 a.m. match against Winona State on Sept. 13 followed by a 5 p.m. match against Purdue University-Northwest. The next day, McKendree will face Upper Iowa at 10:15 a.m. and then the tournament host, Parkside, at 7:15 p.m.

McKendree is coming off of a 1-3 weekend from its Ferris State Invitational performance where they defeated Gannon University in a five set match but fell to Wayne State, No. 11 Ferris State, and Bemidji State.

Returners junior outside hitter Elle Russell (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) and senior middle blocker Megan Marks (Colgate, WI/Germantown) were top performers for the Bearcats at the Invitational. Russell was the only Bearcat to make the Ferris State Invitational All-Tournament team tallying 58 kills and 30 digs on the weekend. Marks led McKendree's defense at the net recorded 17 block assists and one solo block while still tallying 32 kills for the offense.

Junior setter Gracie Marr (Castle Rock, CO/Castle View) collected 182 assists on the weekend, the third most out of the entire Invitational, during her first performance at the helm of the Bearcat offense. Marr also recorded 33 digs throughout the weekend, proving to be a strong defender for McKendree.

Freshmen outside hitter Maddie Misner (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale) and libero Amanda Tippett (O'Fallon, MO./St. Dominic ) also shined for McKendree in their first performance as Bearcats. Misner led the offense in the first match against Wayne State with 13 kills, recording a total of 45 kills during the tournament. Tippett controlled the back line with double digit digs in each match for a total of 62 on the weekend.

McKendree will have one more tournament, the Lindenwood Invitational Sept. 20-21, before Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition begins on Sept. 27.

Click here for the Official Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational website.

ABOUT WINONA STATE:
Winona State is 4-0 overall on the season after competing in the Illinois Springfield Capital Classis Sept. 6-7. The warriors are a part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and were selected to finish seventh in the conference preseason polls. Winona State finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 13-15 and 10-10 in the NSIC. For more information on the Warriors, click here.

ABOUT PURDUE UNIVERSITY-NORTHWEST:
Purdue University-Northwest is 2-1 overall on the season. The Pride are a part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The start of this season marks Purdue Northwest's first season as a full member of NCAA DII. The Pride finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 3-26 and 0-15 in GLIAC competition. For more information regarding Purdue Northwest, click here.

ABOUT UPPER IOWA:
Upper Iowa is 4-0 overall on the season. The Peacocks are a part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and were selected ninth in the conference preseason poll. Upper Iowa finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 18-11 and 11-9 in NSIC conference play. For more information about the Peacocks, click here.

ABOUT PARKSIDE:
Parkside is 1-3 overall on the season. The Rangers are a part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Parkside ended the 2018 season with an overall record of 8-21 and 5-11 in GLIAC completion. For more information about the Rangers, click here.