LEBANON, Ill. - A total of four different opponents from four varying states resulted in another impressive weekend performance for the Ashford University volleyball team, this time at the McKendree University Tournament.

The Saints (15-6, 2-1 MCC) split a pair of matches on Friday, taking down Peru State College (Neb.), 3-0, and falling in straight sets against host McKendree (Ill.). Ashford then cleaned up on a perfect Saturday, sweeping Harris-Stowe State College (Mo.) and St. Catharine College (Ky.) in successive matches.

AU took runner-up honors in the five-team tourney. An all-tournament team was not named for this event.

"For the most part, I thought we had a very consistent weekend and executed when we needed to," AU Head Coach Micah Cewe said. "McKendree was able to take us out of our aggressive style of play, but to end the weekend with three wins is nothing to hang our heads over. We're still not satisfied yet and will continue to get better."

The Saints' frontline dominated Peru State in the opener, hitting for an impressive average of .362. Ashford was never threatened and took down the Bobcats by convincing scores of 25-15, 25-14 and 25-15.

Ashford last saw McKendree in  2009, a spirited battle at the St. Ambrose Fall Classic, and had revenge on the mind after a four-set defeat. Despite a team-high 10 kills from Yawen Xiao of Shanghai, China, the Saints couldn't get their offense tracked and fell by scores of 25-19, 25-12, 25-23.

The Saints sent Harris-Stowe to their 10th straight loss to begin the fall and a total of 15 players saw the court and made key contributions to the victory. Freshman Melissa Backes of Blaine, Minn., nailed down a career-best six kills and another freshman Alexis Boss of Evergreen Park, Ill., converted five kills on just six swings.

Just in its second year of NAIA eligibility, St. Catharine College suffered its 22nd loss of the season and was victimized by the Saints' efficient frontline, led by Xiao's 16 kills on 30 total attempts. Boss recorded six kills and senior Kelsay McCausland of Camanche added eight.

Senior defensive specialists Tara VanZuiden of Albany, Ill., and Samantha Moller of Silvis, Ill., combined for 30 digs in the back row. Moller also led the Saints with nine digs in the defensive effort against Harris-Stowe State College.

The Saints hit the road against on Wednesday, traveling to Grand View University in Des Moines to resume Midwest Collegiate Conference action. The match is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 p.m. following the JV match.