McPherson, Kan. – The Lady Bulldogs brought home two wins on Saturday as they took down Central Christian College and College of the Ozarks. This now makes three-straight for Mac as they are 6-14 on the year.
The 'Dogs started the day with a four-set match against CCC. In the opening set, MC took a quick 6-1 lead but a 5-0 run by Central shortly thereafter put the score dead even at 9-9. It went back-and-forth the rest of the way until the teams were tied at 20-20. The Bulldogs took the set after scoring five of the final eight points, 25-23. In the second set, the Lady Tigers used a couple big runs to get up early and stay ahead, winning 25-14. Mac controlled the third set, scoring two points to every one for Central, winning 25-13. McPherson proved that they deserve the "Battle for McPherson" victory as they took the fourth set easily 25-18.
The 'Dogs totaled 13 blocks in the match and were led by Jessica Sanders who had nine block assists; the junior middle hitter also tallied three kills on 15 swings. Topping the team in kills was Mac's other middle hitter, Taryn Lee, as she recorded 12, hitting a team-high .226 hitting percentage; the senior also had four assisted blocks. The two freshmen outside hitters hit a combined 17 kills with Lexi Kite logging nine and Leia Seiler with eight.
Maci Schlehuber led Mac in assists with 18 and also had double-digits in digs. Rhianna Smith tallied 13 assists and 11 digs in the match.
As a team, McPherson had 83 digs in the four-setter. Emily Warner came up big for the Bulldogs as she had 29. Also hitting double figures, aside from the setters, was Jocelyn Cochran who had 10.
The second match of the day was a bit tougher for the Lady Bulldogs as they took on the College of the Ozarks. It started with a set made up of runs as both teams put mini-streaks together, leading to a crazy finish. MC led 23-16 but a 5-0 run by the Bobcats tightened things up; the 'Dogs would hold on and win 25-21. C of O had the runs when they needed them in the second set to even things after a 25-17 win. In the third, McPherson stormed out and held the lead most of the way; a late surge by Mac gave them just enough to grab the 25-23 victory. The fourth set was another tough battle with neither team giving any room; with the set tied at 19-19, McPherson pushed forward for the 25-21 win.
Kite and Seiler had big matches again for MC as they produced 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Three other Bulldogs tallied four kills.
Schlehuber led the assisters with her 16; she had nine digs and a kill as well. Smith earned three aces and three digs to go with her 13 assists.
Service aces were big for the 'Dogs in their 3-1 win as they tallied 12 in the match. Leading the way was the libero, Warner, who had four. She also bested her teammates with 21 digs.
It's back to conference play for McPherson on Monday as they travel to KCAC No. 1 Ottawa University for a 7:00 p.m. (CT) match with the Lady Braves.
Make sure to follow Bulldog Nation on Facebook (MCathletics) and Twitter (@MAC_Bulldogs)
McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
