Drury University Athletics

LEBANON, Ill. – Relying on a balanced offensive attack and a defense that limited McKendree to .092 hitting, Drury volleyball swept a three-set road decision from the Bearcats in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both clubs Friday evening at Melvin Price Convocation Center.

In addition to her six kills, Jacy Bray registered 25 assists and 13 digs to register her fifth double-double of the season in the victory -- DU's first in a GLVC opener since 2022 -- and Abby Renshaw tallied a team-best nine kills. 

With the win, Drury (10-2, 1-0 GLVC) extended its best start to a season since 2018 with its ninth win in its last 10 contests.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Drury seized control of the opening set with an 8-0 spurt, turning a 15-13 edge into a double-digit advantage.
• Led by Renshaw's four kills, the Panthers hit .310 as a team while taking advantage of eight McKendree attack errors and four service miscues.
• After DU built a 7-3 lead behind Renshaw's three early kills, the Bearcats (2-9, 0-1 GLVC) whittled away at the margin to close to within 10-9.
• Drury won the next three points, but McKendree claimed four of the ensuing six points to pull to within two points once more.
• Renshaw, who hit .667 in the set, combined with Gracie Kimrey on a pair of blocks to help spur what would turn into a 10-1 DU run to close out the 25-14 win.
• The second set mirrored the first, with the Panthers once again taking control with a late scoring run to take a 2-0 lead.
• After the two clubs went back-and-forth in a set that featured nine ties and four lead changes.
• This time DU reeled off a 7-0 run to snap a 14-14 tie, with Skylar HIlton turning in a pair of blocks during the key stretch.
• The Panthers forced eight additional attack errors and limited the Bearcats to .109 hitting in the second stanza.
• In the third set, DU established an early four-point edge, then gradually pulled away with a 10-6 run.
• Hilton and Chaney Barth led the offense with four kills apiece, while the Bearcats hit .081 and never drew closer than within three points down the stretch.

• With 10 wins in its first 12 contests, Drury has matched its best start to a season since 2018, when the Panthers also opened 10-2.
• Drury head coach Kelly Richardson's 10-2 record marks the best start by a first-year Panthers head coach on record.
• The Panthers claimed a win in their GLVC opener for the first time since 2022; DU improved to 13-9 all-time in GLVC openers.
• With her 25 assists, Bray moved to within 47 assists of the 1,000-assist milestone for her career.
• Kimrey hit .417 with five kills and three blocks, while Hilton totaled six kills on .400 hitting. 
• Barth added six kills, four of which came in the third set.
• The straight-set victory marked the eighth sweep of the season for the Panthers.

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