LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree Unviersity women's volleyball hits the road for another tournament this fall, this time for the Midwest Region Crossover in Hammond, Indiana. The annual crossover tournament features three conferences in a flurry of matches over two days at Hammond Sports Complex, the conferences involved are: the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Bearcats enter the weekend of non-conference play with a matchup against Purdue Northwest  on Friday, October 15, at 2:30 P.M. McKendree owns a 4-12 record overall this fall and a 2-6 GLVC record but have dropped their latest two matches. The last win for McKendree came against Truman State at home, which came during the Bearcats' sole home stand this fall so far. 

Sophomore outside hitter duo Colleen Preusser and Brianna Binder have been the lead on attacking this fall with Preusser avergaing 3.15 points per set and Binder amassing 3.11 points per set. Both outside hitters have collected six matches with double-doubles over the season so far. Preusser,  a native of St. Charles Missouri, owns a high of 17 kills (at Drury, 9/18/2021) and eight contests with double-digit kills while she has amassed 11 contests with double-digit digs and a high of 20 (at Southwest Baptist, 10/8/2021). Binder set career-marks in kills with 23 versus Truman State (10/2/2021) and has eight matches with 10-plus; she has collected nine matches with 10-plus digs while her high is 23 (at Illinois Springfield, 9/25/2021).

THe Bearcat attack is under the coordination efforts of junior setter Macy Tongate, who owns 519 assists this fall (8.95 per set). Tongate is also an offensive threat with 24 kills and five service aces on the year. She has laid out for 123 digs and collected 32 blocks, whioch is tied for the lead on McKendree. Preusser and Binder are also the leaders in digs for McKendree with 177 (3.05 per set) and 165 (2.95 per set). Overall, there are five Bearcats with more than 2.00 digs per set. Presuser and Binder are followed in average by senior libero Skyler Sieber (2.77 per set, 144 total), junior outside hitter Maddie Misner (2.70 per set, 143 total), and the junior Tongate (2.12 per set, 123 total). Seven Bearcats have amassed double-digit blocks with Tongate and junior middle blocker Claire Diercks leading the way at 32.0 each. Preusser has thwarted 21.0 this fall while Binder narrowly trails with 18.0 so far. Junior middle blocker Sarah Porter (14.0 total blocks), sophomore middle blocker Lauren McCurley (13.0 total blocks), and the outside hitter Misner (11.0 total blocks), round out those seven, attack-thwarting Bearcats.

THIS WEEKEND:

2021 Midwest Region Crossover Tournament (website)
Friday, October 15 | 2:30 P.M. | versus Purdue Northwest Pride (1-15, 0-8 GLIAC) | L10 
     All-time series: McKendree leads 2-0, including a win during the UIS Capital City Classic, 3-0 (9/11/2021).

Saturday, October 16 | 9:30 A.M. | versus Malone Pioneers (6-12, 2-7 GMAC) | L5
     All-time series: Mckendree leads 2-1, including the last two matchups, 3-0 (10/13/2018) and 3-0 (10/25/2013).
Saturday, October 16 | 4:00 P.M. | versus Tiffin Dragons (8-12. 5-4 GMAC) | L1
     All-time series: McKendree leads 1-0 and won the first-ever matchup earlier this season, 3-1, on September 4. 


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