SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - McKendree University women's volleyball picked up its first win of the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon, defeating Arkansas Tech University 3-1. The Bearcats went 1-1 for the day after falling to Texas A&M International University earlier Saturday morning, 3-0.
In game one against Texas A&M International, the Dust Devils claimed three sets in a row by scores of 25-19, 25-18, and 25-16. McKendree was led by senior outside hitter Brianna Binder, tallying her second double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs. Senior opposite side hitter Colleen Preusser and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Harris also snagged double figure digs with 18 and 10, respectively. Sophomore outside hitter Megan Diercks reached a career-high three kills in the match.
The Bearcats turned the tides in game two against Arkansas Tech, jumping out to a 2-0 lead over the Golden Suns by scores of 25-15 and 25-22. Arkansas Tech slipped away with set three, 25-23, before McKendree would win the match by a set four score of 25-16.
Set one was highlighted by the Bearcats' impressive .500 hitting percentage, no hitting errors, and defensive efforts that held the Golden Suns to a .111 hitting percentage. Individually, Binder hit .636 percent and Preusser hit .571 percent for the set.
Overall, the Bearcats hit .254 percent across the four sets, their best hitting performance of the opening weekend. For the match, McKendree delivered 10 service aces as five different Bearcats claimed two aces each.
Binder notched another double-double, her third of the season, at 13 kills and 12 digs, while junior setter Amber Williams picked up her second double-double of 35 assists and 11 digs. Preusser added 13 kills of her own in addition to nine kills from junior outside hitter Emma McIlhargie. Preusser put up a .355 percent hitting performance to lead all percentages.
Defensively, the Bearcats claimed nine blocks, four of them courtesy of Williams and two solo blocks by Binder. McKendree's middle blockers, fifth-year senior Claire Diercks and senior Lauren McCurley, accounted for three blocks each.
Coming up, McKendree will be in action at the UIndy Invitational next weekend. On Friday, the Bearcats face Ashland University at 8 a.m. followed by an afternoon match against Thomas Moore at 2 p.m. Day two of the invitational will feature the Bearcats against Florida Southern at 8 a.m. and Northwood at 2 p.m.
