KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—For a match that ended in a 3-0 win for the Truman Volleyball team, Friday night's match with McKendree was not short on excitement. The first set was the longest of the season for the Bulldogs, who rallied for the 31-29 win in the set after being down 24-21 earlier with the Bearcats serving on set point. But the Truman rally in the first set sparked a 3-0 win (31-29, 25-17, 25-19).
The Bulldogs started quickly as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead, only to have McKendree even it up at eight. Eventually the Bearcats built up a lead of their own at 18-14, only to have Truman rally and knot it up at 21. From there, three straight points for McKendree gave them set point at 24-21. A kill form Jocelynn Livingston kept the Bulldogs alive, then two more points evened the set at 24. McKendree had three straight chances to take the set, but Truman survived each time. With the score 28-27, Truman had their first chance to win but the Bearcats fought it off. At 29-28 a service error by Truman kept McKendree alive. But from a 29-29 deuce kills from Livingston and Sam Yancy would take the set for Truman.
Riding the momentum from the first set, Truman got out to an 8-3 lead early in the second. McKendree fought back to get within two at 12-10, but Truman answered with three straight, including a service ace from Yancy. Truman would stay a few points ahead most of the set, and closed on a 5-1 run take the second set 25-17.
The Bulldogs took the first six points in the third set to leave no doubt of the outcome. They never trailed in the set, leading by as many as eight at 16-8. From McKendree would battle back to within four at 19-15, forcing a Truman timeout. Out of the timeout Truman retook at six point lead at 21-15, and from there would cruise the rest of the way to win the set 25-19 and take the match.
With the win tonight, the Bulldogs are just one game back of Missouri S&T, Southern Indiana and Quincy in the GLVC; keeping the slight potential for making the conference tournament alive. Their final match of the regular season will be tomorrow at 3 PM against Southern Indiana for Senior Day at Pershing Arena.
