(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 5) – The McKendree University women's volleyball team will open its 2019 season in Big Rapids, Mich., with four matches at the Ferris State Invitational Sept. 5-7.

The first match is scheduled for Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET against Wayne State University. Day two of the invitational, the Bearcats are set to face Gannon University at 2 p.m. ET and the tournament host Ferris State University at 6:30 p.m. ET. McKendree will wrap up the tournament on Sept. 7 with a match against Bemidji State University at 1 p.m. ET.

There will be live stats and a live video stream available for the Friday Sept. 6 match against Ferris State, all links can be found on the women's volleyball schedule page.

The Bearcats ended the 2018 season with a 16-15 overall record and 10-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). McKendree clinched a conference playoff spot where they faced nationally ranked Drury University in the quarterfinals. Despite a strong team effort and forcing extra points in the second set, the Bearcats fell to the Panthers 3-0.

McKendree will attend two additional tournaments this month before conference competition begins on Sept. 27 with a match against Rockhurst in Kansas City, Mo. The Bearcats first home match is set for Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. against GLVC newcomer Southwest Baptist for Parent's Weekend.

ABOUT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY:
Wayne State will open its 2019 season with the Ferris State Invitational, its first match being against the Bearcats. The Warriors are a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and were selected fifth in the preseason poll. Wayne State ended its 2018 season with an overall record of 15-13 and 10-6 in GLIAC competition. For more information about Wayne State, click here.  

ABOUT GANNON UNIVERSITY:
Gannon University is also set to open its 2019 season at the Ferris State Invitational. The Golden Knights are part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and have been selected to top the Northwest division of the conference. Gannon finished its 2018 season with an overall record of 31-3 and 17-1 in conference competition. The Golden Knights made it to the PSAC championship match but fell to Seton Hill in five sets. With its record, Gannon was selected for the NCAA DII regional match where they defeated Shepherd. The Golden Knights season came to an end by falling to Seton Hill once again in five sets. For more information about Gannon University, click here.

ABOUT FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY:
Ferris State University is the five-time defending champion of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and is selected once again to collect the title in 2019. The Bulldogs finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 27-5 and a perfect 16-0 conference record. Ferris State went on to compete in the NCAA DII region where they surpassed Ashland University in the quarterfinals with a 3-2 victory but then fell to Rockhurst University in the semifinals 3-2. For more information regarding Ferris State, click here.  

ABOUT BEMIDJI STATE:
Bemidji State will begin its 2019 season with four matches at the Ferris State Invitational. The Beavers are a part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and were voted to finish thirteenth in the preseason poll. Bemidji State finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 6-22 and 3-17 in conference competition. This will be the first time McKendree has ever competed against Bemidji State in program history. For more information about Bemidji State, click here.