Volleyball Closes Regular Season With Loss at KWU, Seeded Fifth for KCACs

McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- Lexi Kite (Thorton, Colo.) and Jocelyn Cochran (Newton, Kan.) each posted double-doubles as the McPherson College volleyball team closed out its regular season Saturday afternoon with a 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20 loss to Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina.
 
McPherson (20-11, 13-9 KCAC) jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set, but Kansas Wesleyan (22-13, 18-4 KCAC) responded with a 9-4 run to tie the set at 10-10. The teams traded points to move the score to 16-16 before the Coyotes embarked on a 7-0 run on the serve of Kim Blusher. The Bulldogs got the side out courtesy of a KWU attack error, but conceded the serve on the next point as a Valerie Most kill gave the Coyotes a set point. McPherson scored the next three points to extend the set, but another Most kill gave the hosts the first set.
 
An 8-2 run allowed the Coyotes to break a 12-12 tie in the second set en route to a 2-0 lead overall.
 
In the third set, Kansas Wesleyan used a 5-0 run to turn a 6-5 deficit into an 11-7 lead. McPherson responded with a 6-1 run to retake the lead. From there, the teams traded points to move the score to 21-21. The Bulldogs closed out the set with a 4-1 run behind kills by Cochran and Kite and a block by Jessica Sanders (Rhome, Texas) and Sadie Atkins (Altamont, Kan.).
 
After an even start to the fourth set, the Coyotes scored three straight points to break a 10-10 tie, building a lead they would not relinquish.
 
Kite led the team with 13 kills and 14 digs, while Cochran added 12 kills, 15 digs, three block assists and an assist. Sanders, Atkins, Devrie Sombers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Leia Seiler (Fort Lupton, Colo.) also chipped in with six kills apiece.
 
Morgan Little (Las Vegas, Nev.) added 32 assists and seven digs, while Emily Warner (Wichita, Kan.) posted a team-high 28 digs. Jamie Siess (Tecumseh, Kan.) and Kaitlyn Heinis (Oviedo, Fla.) each had six assists.
 
Valerie Most led Kansas Wesleyan with 18 kills, eight digs and three block assists. Kim Blusher added 13 kills, four block assists and six digs. Hannah Reynolds had 11 kills, three aces, two blocks (one solo) and two digs.
 
Taylor Dodge led the Coyotes with 27 assists, while Shelby Craig added 20. Bailee Fritts led three KWU players with double-digit digs with 15.
 
KCAC Tournament Up Next for Bulldogs
The Bulldogs and Coyotes have both qualified for the upcoming KCAC Volleyball Tournament. Kansas Wesleyan, the No. 3 seed, hosts sixth-seeded Friends (14-20, 12-10 KCAC), while fifth-seeded McPherson travels to No. 4 seed Oklahoma Wesleyan (19-10, 14-8). OWU swept McPherson during the regular season, winning in five at McPherson on Sept. 14 and earning a sweep at home on Oct. 15.
 
No. 2 Tabor (23-8, 20-2 KCAC) hosts No. 7 Saint Mary (12-19, 10-12 KCAC), while No. 8 Bethany (10-21, 8-14 KCAC) travels to league champion and No. 1 seed Ottawa (28-7, 22-0 KCAC). All four quarterfinal matches are slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday.