The McKendree University women's volleyball team battled until the end with Drury Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats kept it close with the Panthers in the three-set loss (25-22, 25-23, 25-18).

McKendree came out with great momentum to start the first set, moving around their hitters and the defense picking up out of system balls. Towards the middle of the set, the momentum switched in favor of Drury and they were able to pull away. Drury would take the first set 25-22.

McKendree stunned Drury with their net presence in the second set, putting up a big block and getting Drury out of system. A late five-point run from the Panthers would give them the extra momentum they needed to finish out the set. An overpass kill from the libero would secure the set for Drury, 25-23.

Drury broke the back-and-forth scoring between them and McKendree near the midway point of the set. A kill from the outside would start a six-point run by the Panthers. The Bearcats had a run of their own late in the set to get within four, but it was not enough to recover. A kill from the middle would give Drury the set 25-18, and the match 3-0.

McKendree produced 36 kills in the match with a .082 hitting percentage, and led in blocks 5-1. Colleen Preusser (St. Charles, MO/Lutheran) led the offense with 10 kills on the afternoon, along with 13 gigs. Brianna Binder (Littleton, CO/Dakota Ridge) recorded four of the team's five aces, led the defense with 14 digs, and added two blocks. Claire Diercks (Highland, IL/Highland) had three blocks, while Gracie Marr (Castle Rock, CO/Castle View) recorded 33 assists.

Nickie Sanlin's team will be back on the court later tonight to face No.7 University of Missouri-St. Louis at 7:00 PM.