PARKVILLE, Mo. – Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball faced No. 6 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) and Park University who is receiving votes in a triangular on Friday at the Breckon Sports Center at Park University.
 
The Coyotes would drop both matches in straight sets.
 
NWCIA 3, KWU 0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-16): Wesleyan battled valiantly against the No. 6 ranked Red Raiders but late runs by Northwestern in each set proved to be too much for the Coyotes.
 
The Coyotes led several times in the first set as both teams traded the lead back and forth. KWU's last lead came at 15-14 in the set, but the Coyotes were within one at 18-17 when Northwestern pushed out to a 20-17 lead. A point for the Coyotes on a kill by Kylee Harris made it 20-18, but the Red Raiders scored the final five to take the first set.
 
Wesleyan tried to swing momentum back racing out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, but Northwestern tied it at 7 after a 4-point run. Both teams traded runs, and the lead, KWU leading 9-7 before NWCIA took a 12-9 lead. Then it was KWU taking a 13-12 lead. It was tied 15 all when Northwestern scored seven straight to pull ahead and eventually take the set.
 
In the third set, again KWU started hot, but Northwestern would catch up. KWU scored the first four and later led 12-7 before five straight by the Red Raiders tied it. KWU scored the next two, but then six straight by Northwestern gave the Red Raiders an 18-14 lead. After a KWU point, Northwestern rattled off five more in a row.
 
Rylee Serpan had 11 kills and Harris had 10. Sara Bebout had 17 assists and Blair Pennington had 12. Kori Arnold had 18 digs.
 
PARK 3, KWU 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-21): The Coyotes faced the host Park University Pirates and dropped a straight set decision.
 
Park jumped out to a 6-1 lead to open the first set. Wesleyan battled back getting within two at 9-7, but Park would push its lead out to 17-10 which proved to be insurmountable for the Coyotes.
 
The Coyotes fell behind 8-2 to start the second set and could not recover never getting closer than four points the rest of the set.
 
Wesleyan turned the tides to open the third set pushing out to a 7-1 lead. Leading 10-3, the Coyotes saw Park score five straight to get within two at 10-8. Park tied it at 11 and took a 14-13 lead before KWU tied it. It was last tied at 15 when Park went on a 5-1 run to take a 20-16 lead. The Coyotes were within three at 24-21 but could not rally.
 
Serpan led the way again with 13 kills, while Joey Pennington had seven. Sara Bebout had 15 assists and Blair Pennington had eight. Madelyn Wolf had four aces. Ella Schmid had eight digs.
 
The Coyotes are back in action again on Saturday, finally getting a home match as KWU hosts Benedictine College Ravens at 1 p.m. at Mabee Arena.