INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - McKendree University women's volleyball picked up two wins at the UIndy Invitational on Friday morning and afternoon, with a stellar performance defeating Ashland University 3-1 and Thomas More University 3-0.
In game one against Ashland University, the Bearcats claimed the first set 25-20 but the Eagles slipped away with set two, 25-20 before McKendree would win the last two sets 25-17 and 25-18. This game secured their second win of the season for the Bearcats.
Senior outside hitter
Brianna Binder, senior opposite side hitter
Colleen Preusser, and junior setter
Amber Williams secured a double-double each for the Bearcats. Binder crushed her previous career highs in kills putting down 24 kills and 15 digs. Pruesser tailed in 19 kills and 13 digs, while Williams crushed her career high in digs and led the way defensively, with 22 digs and 53 assists.
Offensively, the Bearcats reeled in a total of eight aces, junior libero
Keely Davis leading the way with three aces. Also, helping out defensively with double-digit digs was sophomore outside hitter
Lauren Harris with 16 digs and Davis with 13 digs. Bearcats claimed two total blocks, each from senior middle blocker
Lauren McCurley and Williams.
In game two, the Bearcats claimed three sets in a row againts the Saints by scores of 25-11, 25-18, and 25-22. Williams notched another double-double with 38 assists and 10 digs. Defensively, Preusser led the way with 19 digs and the Bearcats claimed a total of seven team blocks, three of them courtesy of McCurley.
Overall, the Bearcats hit .287 percent across the three sets, with their best-hitting performance of the season. Junior outside hitter
Emma McIlhargie and McCurley accounted for 11 kills each. For the match, McKendree delivered five service aces, two each from McIlhargie and Binder, and one from Davis.
Up next, McKendree women's volleyball continues play in the UIndy Invitational, facing Florida Southern College at 8 a.m. on Saturday followed by a 2 p.m. game against Northwood University.
