(KENOSHA, Wisc., Sept. 14) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team dropped its first match to Upper Iowa, 3-0 and then went on to defeat the tournament host Parkside, 3-1 on the final day of the Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational. The Bearcats are now 3-5 overall on the season.

McKendree lost to the undefeated Peacocks of Upper Iowa to begin competition, 3-0. Upper Iowa had zero attack errors in the first set compared to the Bearcats 11, which helped lead them to a 25-15 victory in set one. McKendree drastically improved in the second and third sets only recording six errors in each but weren't able to overcome the Peacocks as they fell 25-21 in both sets.

The Bearcats defeated Parkside, 3-1 in their second match of the day. They began the match with intensity, taking a commanding lead early on and ultimately taking down the Rangers, 25-18. Parkside fought back and recorded its highest team hitting percentage of the match at .294 compared to McKendree's .109% to win the second set 25-21. The Bearcats bounced back and collected the win in the third set, 25-20 and then dominated the fourth set, 25-10 to earn the 3-1 match victory.

Junior outside hitter Eller Russell led McKendree's offense with 31 total kills on the day, 15 in the first match and 16 in the second. Senior Outside hitter Kelly Voss (St. Rose, IL/Mater Dei) was also an offensive leader for the Bearcats with 24 total kills.

Defensively, freshman libero Amanda Tippett (O'Fallon, MO./St. Dominic ) led the back line with 24 total digs for the day. Other impact players for McKendree's defense were freshman outside hitter Maddie Misner (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale), junior setter Gracie Marr (Castle Rock, CO/Castle View), and Russell. Misner earned 16 digs in the last match, Marr recorded 21 digs on the day, and Russell tallied 22 total digs.

The Bearcats will compete next at the Lindenwood Invitational Sept. 20-21 in St. Charles, Mo.