BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - McKendree University women's volleyball split its final day of matches at the Ferris State Invitational, dropping match one to St. Leo while canning Tiffin in four sets. Three Bearcats recorded more than 20 kills over the seven-set, two-match day. 

McKendree recorded its first victory of the season with the win over Tiffin in its final match of the Ferris State Invitational, beating the Dragons 3-1. The first three match for the Bearcats showed struggles offensively but found their stride on the final day of competition. Senior middle blocker Hope Gramly has shown her offensive prominence over the last two days of competition, amassing 29 kills on the second day in Big Rapids and 26 on day one. Over the four-match weekend, Gramly 
Coordinating the offense was junior setter Macy Tongate, who collected 81 assists over seven sets of action. Tongate has played a pivotal role in leading the offense of the Bearcats in the first four matches of the season and has dished out 143 assists so far (9.53 assists per set).

Along with Gramly, sophomore outside hitters Brianna Binder and Colleen Preusser contributed over 20 kills each in Saturday's matches, adding to the already solid total from the first day of play. Preusser, a native of St. Charles, Missouri, bombarded the opposing forces with 25 kills in the seven-set day, additionally she had four aces, four blocks, 21 digs, and 31.0 points. Binder also collected 25 kills in the second day at the invitational, as well as two aces, three blocks, 19 digs, and 28.5 points. The trio of Gramly, Preusser, and Binder provided much needed offensive sparks throughout the invitational as all three own over 40 kills on the season and average more than 3.20 points per set.

Defensively, the Bearcats have played by committee thus far with five players averaging more than 2.20 digs per set. Preusser has led the McKendree defensive line so far with 2.80 digs per set (42 total) and 6.0 blocks over the first weekend. Junior libero Amanda Tippett ranks second on the team in digs with 40 digs and Binder also has 40 digs over the first four matches of the year. The setter Tongate has laid out for 34 digs while junior outside hitter Maddie Misner has 22 so far through the season.

Against St. Leo, the Bearcats played the Lions closely throughout the three-set match but failed to capture a set in the short match. The Lions out-attacked the Bearcats, .237 to .134 but sent through the same number of kills at 39 in the match. McKendree struggled at the net on offense and committed 24 attack errors. 

In the final match of the invitational for McKendree, the Bearcats captured their first victory of the season in a decisive 3-1 win over the Dragons. McKendree out-attacked Tiffin, recording 60 kills over the four-set win on a .234 hitting percentage. 

NOTES:
Senior Hope Gramly has recorded 55 kills (3.67 per set) through four matches along with 62.0 points (4.13 per set) to lead the Bearcats offense. 

Sophomore outside hitters Colleen Preusser and Brianna Binder have also been crucial offensive pieces for McKendree in the young season. Preusser has collected 44 kills with 53.0 points while Binder has 42 kills with 49.0 points. 

Six players have recorded at least one service ace so far, Colleen Preusser leads the way with six while Hope Gramly has sent four over the net.

UP NEXT:
McKendree women's volleyball will be back in action on September 10 and 11 at the Capital City Classic in Springfield, Illinois. The Bearcats will take on Michigan Tech, Grand Valley State, Upper Iowa, and Purdue Northwest.

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