Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball faced tenth-ranked McPherson on Wednesday night inside Mabee Arena and the Coyotes became the first team in the KCAC this season to take a set from the Bulldogs.
The Coyotes would rally and win the third set 25-16 but ultimately dropped the match 25-9, 25-17, 16-25, 25-18.
Things didn't start well for the Coyotes in the first set as KWU fell behind 4-0 to start and trailed 11-1. The Coyotes just couldn't get things going in the set dropping the set 25-9.
McPherson raced out to a 7-1 lead to start the second set but the Coyotes battled back. KWU trailed 15-6 when the Coyotes put together four straight points capped by
Ryan Pennington's service ace to get back within five at 15-10. Another Pennington kill got the Coyotes within six at 22-16 but McPherson was able to win the set 25-17.
In the third, the Coyotes got things going. KWU started out with a 4-1 lead in the set on
Avery Conner's solo block and found ways to fend off charges by McPherson throughout. The Bulldogs were within a point of the Coyotes at 13-12 when KWU went on a 6-0 run to push the lead out to 19-12. It was 23-16 when the Coyotes closed out the set with kills by
Campbell Bohling and
Aidyn Lagergren for the 25-16 win.
McPherson took a 5-1 lead to start the fourth set but the Coyotes didn't falter, instead KWU got back within a point at 5-4 on a kill by
Ivi Marcolino. KWU trailed 7-4 before scoring four straight to take an 8-7 lead. KWU led 9-8 on a kill by
Giovanna Ishii but McPherson would score the next five to take a 13-9 lead. The Coyotes got back within a point at 14-13 but McPherson used a 7-1 run to take a 21-14 lead. The difference proved to be too much for the Coyotes to overcome, dropping the set 25-18.
Marcolino led the Coyotes with 11 kills, while Ishii had 10 and Bohling had eight. Ishii had 21 assists and 14 digs for a triple-double.
Harley Ludacka had 17 assists for the Coyotes and nine digs.
Tristyn Hedman had 20 digs and Bohling added 16. Conner had four blocks.
The Coyotes will play their final home match of the season on Friday night against Avila at 7 p.m. in Mabee Arena. KWU wraps up the regular season next week with matches at Bethel and Friends.
