LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University women's volleyball returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference play against Drury on September 18 in Springfield, Missouri. The homeopener for McKendree will take place on the October 1 and 2 against UMSL and Truman State. 

The home opener match on September 16 against Lindenwood has been cancelled due to league protocols. 

The Bearcats then hit the road once again for their first road GLVC match in Springfield, Missouri to take on the Panthers of Drury. Drury enters this week with a 6-2 record after two tournaments to begin the season. The Panthers went 4-0 at their home tournament, going 12-3 in sets overall. They then traveled far north for the Alaska Nanook Classic where they split results in the outing. McKendree will look to snap a four-match losing streak against the Panthers, which dates back to 2018. The last time McKendree defeated the Panthers was in 2017 (3-1) during a road bout in Springfield, Missouri.

McKendree stuggled to get its offense moving consistently in its first two tournaments, beating only Purdue Northwest and Tiffin so far through the year. Senior middle blocker Hope Gramly has served as the offensive work horse for the Bearcats, recording 104.5 points through eight matches this season behind 3.73 kills per set and 25.0 total blocks. Sophomore outside hitters Brianna Binder and Colleen Preusser have amassed 81.0 (2.89 kills per set) and 78.5 points (2.80 kills per set).  The main coordination of the offense has come through junior setter Macy Tongate, who has dished out 246 assists in eight matches; also adding 14 kills, three aces while laying out for 62 digs on the defensive side. 

Defensively, Binder and Preusser have been a blockade against opposing attacks, combining for 153 digs and 20 blocks in the eight matches for the Bearcats. Six individuals are averaging more than 2.00 digs per set for McKendree, led by Preusser at 2.86. Junior outside hitter Maddie Misner sits just behind the sophomore outside hitter with 2.65 per set (61 total). At the net, junior middle blockers Claire Diercks and Sarah Porter have both been influencing opposing attack attempts, with Dierks collecting 16 blocks and Porter adding 14 more. 

NOTES:
Senior Hope Gramly has recorded four matches with 10-plus kills, including season-highs of 19 against Davenport and Tiffin. 

Sophomore Brianna Binder tied her career-high in points against Tiffin with 17.0 behind 14 kills, two aces and two block assists. Binder has four matches with double-digit kills this year. Her career-mark came against Lindenwood (2/27/21).

Sophomore Colleen Preusser has three matches with double-digit kills so far this year, including a career-high tying 15 against Tiffin. She tied her career-mark from last season's match with UIndy (3/27/21).

The Bearcats look to snap a four-match losing streak against Drury, which dates back to September of 2018. 


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