SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The McKendree Bearcats extended their winning streak to 11 and snapped Drury's win streak at six in a 3-1 win over the Panthers on Tuesday at the O'Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield. McKendree raised their record to 12-3 and 7-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Drury dropped to 14-3 and 6-2 in the GLVC.
 
The Bearcats won the first set 25-18 and the second 25-22. The Panthers led for most of the third set to win 25-19 and forced a fourth set. McKendree started the fourth with a 15-3 lead and closed out the match 25-14.
 
"McKendree is a great team and they did the things that they do well," said Drury head coach Jenifer Bahner. "We learned that we have to be better with our level of fight and our level of excellence. We struggled to get into a rhythm and find any momentum."
 
Arela Williams, the conference leader in kills per set, had a game-high 26 kills for McKendree to go with 18 digs. Morgan Melchart added 45 assists for the Bearcats.
 
Sarah Kite led Drury with 15 kills while Kendra Sater had 43 assists and Bree Schmidt added 21 digs.
 
The Panthers return to action on Friday when they play at Bellarmine. Game time is 6 p.m. (central) in Louisville, Kentucky.
 
 
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