Volleyball Tops Central Christian in Straight Sets

McPHERSON, Kan. --- The McPherson College volleyball team wrapped up nonconference play with a 25-13, 25-12, 25-16 sweep of crosstown rival Central Christian College on Wednesday at Dr. Jerry E. Alexander Arena.

The Bulldogs (11-6) spotted the Tigers (5-13) a 2-0 lead to open the first set but roared back with nine points in a row on the serve of Jocelyn Cochran (Newton, Kan.). A kill by Kasi Kraus followed by another from Makalyn Tuttle on Kraus' serve drew Central Christian within five, but four straight CCC errors pushed the McPherson lead to nine at 13-4. The teams split the next 14 points to leave the Bulldogs with a 20-11 lead before a Kraus service error gave McPherson the serve and a 10-point lead. The Bulldogs took four of last six points of the set with Lexi Kite (Thorton, Colo.) ending it with a kill.

Tied 4-4 to start the second set, McPherson went on a 6-1 run to grab a 10-5 lead. Devrie Sombers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had three aces in a four-serve stretch during the run. The teams battled back-and-forth through the middle portion of the set with Central Christian getting as close as 15-11 before the Bulldogs closed out the set with a 10-1 run.

McPherson used an 8-2 run early in the third set to gain separation and never looked back. The Tigers looked like there might be a late rally from down 22-13 as they scored a pair of points down then traded side outs to make it 23-16, but kills by Sombers and Bree Wallace (Wichita, Kan.) ended the match.

All 16 players on head coach Jessica Cleveland's travel roster participated in the match with Sombers and Cochran each finishing with eight kills. Sombers added four aces and two digs, while Cochran had nine digs. Kite finished with six kills, an ace and a pair of digs. Kaitlyn Heinis (Oviedo, Fla.) had a team-high 10 assists and Emily Warner (Wichita, Kan.) added 11 digs.

Kacie Platt had seven kills to lead Central Christian. She also posted six digs. Hannah Crandall had 14 assists and seven digs and Kraus had 12 digs to go with three kills and two block assists.

The Bulldogs (4-4 KCAC) are right back on the court Saturday afternoon when the University of Saint Mary (6-11, 4-4 KCAC) visits the Sport Center for a KCAC match. First serve for the varsity-only contest is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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McPherson College is a charter member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.