(SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 3)—The McKendree University volleyball team could not hold off a rally by the University of Illinois at Springfield, and dropped a five-set decision in Springfield, Ill. The Bearcats were defeated by scores of 26-28, 25-22, 19-25, 25-11 and 15-10.
The loss gives McKendree a 16-14 record heading into the final weekend of regular-season play. The Bearcats will close its schedule with road contests in Arkansas Friday at Lyon College and Saturday at Williams Baptist College.
Junior middle hitter Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) and junior outside hitter Tara Ryterski (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) led the way for McKendree with 10 kills apiece. Sophomore right-side hitter Kaitlyn Kollmann (Collinsville, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) chipped in with 10 attacks, while Brickey and junior middle hitter Ashley Perry (Sparta, Ill./Sparta) each posted three blocks.
Sophomore setter Melissa Bayer (Collinsville, Ill./Triad) handed out 31 assists at UIS. Junior defensive specialist/outside hitter Lindsay Gray (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon) and senior defensive specialist Kristina Paisley (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault) paced the Bearcats with 16 digs each, while senior libero Lauren Sarver (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap) was right behind with 15.
