LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University women's volleyball snapped a four-game skid with a competitive four-set victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference-foe Truman State behind outstanding performances from a multitude of Bearcats. McKendree earned its first win since September 18th (at Drury, 3-2) with the victory. 

The Bearcats entered the match looking to break the four-match skid and earn their first win at home this season. McKendree spent the first month of the fall on the road, opening Melvin Price Convocation Center on Friday, October 1 in a hard-fought loss to UMSL. The win over Truman State was not only the first win at home this fall but also marked the fourth win in five contests with the Bulldogs. 

The attack for McKendree was led by sophomore outside hitter Brianna Binder, who set career-marks in kills and points enroute to the four-set win. Binder, a native of Littleton, Colorado, bombarded the Truman State defense with 23 kills which led to her career-mark of 25.5 points. The outside hitter had five of her 23 kills in set one, which tied her for the Bearcat lead with fellow sophomore outside hitter Colleen Preusser. The sophomore Binder came through in the most crucial set, collecting eight kills in the match-winning set. Binder also hit a season-high of .391 over the contest. 

Preusser followed her fellow sophomore with 14 kills while laying out for 18 digs as well as adding two blocks and a service ace in the four-set win. Junior middle blocker Claire Diercks came through with a number of crucial points to swing the momentum back to the Bearcats. Direcks' nine kills and 10.5 points both marked career-numbers for the middle blocker. Three other Bearcats recorded at least one kill in the victory as well. Junior setter Macy Tongate was essential in the win, assisting on 45 of the 54 total kills for McKendree. 

The final two sets in the match were down to the wire wins for the Bearcats, with the fourth and final set being taken to extra points. The final point came from an attack error by the Bulldogs, which also featured a block from Preusser and Diercks. 

NOTES:
McKendree snapped a four-match losing streak and collected its second GLVC win on the season in the win over Truman State. The Bearcats have won four of the last five against the Bulldogs, dating back to 2017.

Sophomore outside hitter Brianna Binder (Littleton, Colorado) set career numbers in the four-set victory, including 23 kills and 25.5 points. Her previous highs were 15 kills and 17 points, both against Lindenwood on 2/27/2021.

Sophomore outside hitter Colleen Preusser (St. Charles, Missouri), who celebrated her birthday with the win, also tied a career-high in digs with 18 while she recorded 14 kills. It marked her seventh match with 10-plus kills this fall. 

Junior setter Macy Tongate (Towanda, Illinois) amassed 45 assists on 54 total kills for the Bearcats on Saturday afternoon. It was Tongate's fifth match with 40-plus assists this season. 

Junior middle blocker Claire Diercks (Highland, Illinois) recorded nine kills and 10.5 points which were both career-highs for Diercks. Her previous highs were seven kills and nine points and came against Illinois Springfield (9/25/2021).

UP NEXT:
McKendree women's volleyball will be back on the court on Friday, October 8 at 7 P.M. at Southwest Baptist and Saturday, October 9 at Rockhurst at 3 P.M.

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