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Romeoville, Ill. – Lewis University sophomore outside hitter Cassidy Parsons (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) collected 16 kills and 11 digs to help the women's volleyball team to a 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7) victory over McKendree on Friday (Oct. 4) at Neil Carey Arena.
 
The Flyers, in their first five-set match of the year, improve to 9-4 on the campaign and 5-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play while the Bearcats fall to 3-11 on the season and 1-4 in league action.
 
"We didn't play the greatest tonight," Lewis head coach Lorelee Smith said. "The team was able to grind it out and weather the storm when individuals weren't having their best night while others off the bench stepped it up.
 
"It's nice to see the team pull together to figure out a way to win, even if it wasn't the prettiest."
 
Lewis redshirt sophomore Alexis Davito (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) collected 14 kills while junior setter Leigh Barea (Battle Creek, Mich./Harper Creek) had 48 assists and 13 digs in the five-set match. Sophomore middle hitter Morgan Cebula (Stevens Point, Wis./Stevens Point Area) led with seven kills, four solo blocks and two block assists for the Flyers.
 
McKendree came out hot in the first set, as the Bearcats Hannah Wessel picked up six of her squad's 14 kills. The Bearcats held the Flyers to .091 hitting percentage (9 K, 5 E, 44 TA) to win the set, 25-17.
 
The Flyers stepped it up in the second set as freshman Maddie Seliga (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) came off the bench to collect five of Lewis' 18 kills. Lewis withstood a late push by McKendree to even the match at 1-all with a 25-22 set win.
 
In the third set, both squads struggled to gain momentum. The Flyers were able to get within one at 23-22 but the Bearcats got a kill from Bailey Kampwerth and a Lewis error to take the set, 25-22.
 
In the fourth set, Lewis stepped up the intensity, holding at least a six-point lead most of the set. The Bearcats made a late five-point run to get within 21-16.The Flyers collected two kills from redshirt junior outside hitter Kim Vertin (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Central), a solo block by Cebula and one McKendree error to force a deciding set, 25-17.
 
The Flyers kept the momentum in the fifth set, racing out to an 8-3 lead. Lewis got a big solo block from Cebula and block assists from freshman Jenna Selby (Troy, Ohio/Troy) and Davito in the 15-7 set win.
 
McKendree was led by Maureen Nesbit's 11 kills and 19 digs while Aubry Dickmann had 24 assists. The Bearcats Kelsey Johnson had 23 digs.
 
The Flyers are back in GLVC action on Saturday (Oct. 5) when they host Illinois Springfield at Neil Carey Arena. First serve is set for 3 PM.