Volleyball | 11/8/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s volleyball team snapped their four match losing streak with a 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-19) over Southwestern College in the first round of the KCAC Postseason Tournament Saturday night at the McPherson Sport Center. The win was the first time the Bulldogs have defeated the Moundbuilders this season.
“We showed what we can do tonight when we execute with perfection,” said McPherson head coach Susan Barton. “They did a terrific job and played hard. We had one of our best nights from both of our setters and that helped our hitters have a great night.”
The win improves the eight-seeded Bulldogs to 8-19, while the ninth-seeded Moundbuilders end their season with an 8-20 mark.
Three Bulldogs finished the match with double-digit kills, led by freshman Natalie Boss. Boss was an offensive wrecking ball for the Bulldogs, tallying 14 kills and a .444 hitting percentage. Senior Dana Gordon and freshman Callie McCaffrey connected on 13 and 10 kills, respectively.
Freshman sett Kelli Watts led the team with 26 assists, while sophomores Brooke Wedel and Savannah Sievers held down the Bulldog defense, recording 16 kills apiece.
After dropping the first set 18-25, Coach Barton’s Bulldogs showed their teeth taking set two 25-18. McPherson had one of their best hitting frames of the season, posting 16 kills on 38 attempts with only four errors for a .316 hitting percentage.
Behind strong offense and consistent blocking, McPherson jumped out to a 17-9 lead in set three. The Builders made a run to pull the frame within three at 19-16, but could not hold down the McPherson attack as Boss recorded three kills over the next six McPherson points. The run propelled the Bulldogs to a 25-17 set three victory.
McPherson never trailed in set four, cruising to a 25-19 set four win. The win gave McPherson a 3-1 match victory.
“I am very proud of the girls and how they fought to stay ahead of Southwestern when they tried to make a comeback.”
McPherson moves on to play the first-seeded Tabor College Blue Jays Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Hillsboro. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
