SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The McKendree University women's volleyball team played two matches here Friday at the Capital City Classic presented by Holiday Inn Express hosted on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield. The Bearcats fell to both Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State in three sets each. 

In the first match of the day on Friday against Michigan Tech, the Bearcats (1-5 overall) were led offensively by sophomore outside hitter Brianna Binder (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) and senior middle blocker Hope Gramly (Prosper, Tex./Prosper). Binder had eight kills on an .111 hitting percentage, while Gramly added six kills. The Bearcats struggled offensively with a .008 hitting percentage in the match. 

Defensively, the Bearcats were led by Binder with 11 digs, while sophomore outside/opposite hitter Colleen Preusser (St. Charles, Mo./Luthern) was second in digs with nine. As a team, the Bearcats recorded nine blocks on the defensive side. 

In the second match of the day against the Lakers of Grand Valley State, the Bearcats were led offensively by Gramly, junior middle blocker/opposite side hitter Claire Diercks (Highland, Ill./Highland) and freshman outside hitter Emma McIlhargie (Birch Run, Mich./Birch Run).

Gramly had eight kills, while Diercks added seven and McIlhargie, in her first career start, added six kills to pace the Bearcats offense. Junior setter Macy Tongate (Towanda, Ill./Normal University) added 42 assists between the two matches as she had 19 against Michigan Tech and 23 against Grand Valley State. The Bearcats improved their hitting percentage from match one to .101 against the Lakers.

On the defensive side of the ball against GVSU, the Bearcats were led by senior libero Skyler Sieber (Naples, Fla./Montevallo) who had 11 digs. Sieber was followed by junior outside hitter Maddie Misner (Makanda, Ill./Carbondale) who had nine digs. The defense was able to help transition into offense against the Lakers as the Bearcats attempted to rally in all three sets against Grand Valley State. The team also recorded four blocks. 

The Bearcats return to action on Saturday, September 11 to conclude the Capital City Classic with matches against Upper Iowa University at 1 p.m. and Purdue University-Northwest at 7 p.m. After the Bearcats conclude the tournament, they will open their Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule against Lindenwood University on Thursday, September 16 in the home opener at Melvin Price Convocation Center on the McKendree campus.