McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College volleyball team improved to 5-2 overall with wins over Stephens (Mo.) College and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) on Saturday during a home triangular at the Sport Center.
McPherson def. Stephens, 3-1 (25-13, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19)
The Bulldogs led virtually from start to finish in the first two sets but struggled out of the gate in the third as Stephens jumped out to a 3-0 lead. McPherson eventually knotted the set at 12 apiece and took its first lead at 15-14 only to see the Stars retake the lead with three straight points.
Leading 21-20, Stephens won three straight rallies to bring up set point. McPherson was able to extend the set, if only temporarily, with a Jocelyn Cochran kill and a pair of Stephens attack errors before the Stars were able to end the set with a sideout.
McPherson overcame another sluggish start in the fourth set, scoring four straight points to take the lead after trailing 4-1 to open the set. Tied at 16, the Bulldogs scored nine of the last 12 points to close out the match.
Jocelyn Cochran, Lexi Kite and Leia Seiler each had 10 kills against the Stars.
Morgan Little (23) and Kaitlyn Heinis (18) accounted for 41 of McPherson's 45 assists and the Bulldogs rang up 10 aces led by three each from Devrie Sombers and Cochran.
Defensively, Emily Warner had 11 digs to lead all players while Jessica Sanders, Cochran and Heinis each added six. McPherson also had nine blocks. Sadie Atkins (two solo, two assists) and Sombers (four assists) both had four.
Yonne Nasimiyu had a team-high 10 kills, while Halan Mann added nine kills and 11 assists. Danielle Craven posted team-highs in both assists (21) and digs (four).
McPherson def. USAO, 3-1 (25-10, 25-12, 24-26, 25-18)
As in the first match of the day, McPherson jumped out to a quick two-sets-to-none lead before stumbling in the third against USAO, which was playing in just its second match in program history.
The Drovers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third set and led 10-8 before the Bulldogs went on an 8-3 run to grab a 16-13 advantage.
USAO responded with a 10-2 of its own to lead 23-18. McPherson took six of the next seven points, fighting off two set points in the process, before the Drovers were able to string together back-to-back rally wins to take the set, 26-24.
After a back-and-forth start to the fourth set, the Bulldogs used a 12-2 run to turn a 12-10 deficit into a 22-14 lead. McPherson won seven straight points off the serve of Kaitlyn Heinis then notched three more on the Cochran's serve after the team's traded sideouts. The Drovers made a late rally but would not be able to climb all the way back.
Jocelyn Cochran registered a match-high 16 kills while connecting at a .371 clip. She also added seven digs and a pair of block assists. Lexi Kite added 11 kills.
Morgan Little posted 21 assists while Kaitlyn Heinis added 18. Little also had four service aces. Emily Warner had 22 of McPherson's 50 digs.
Dana Stepankova had 12 kills to lead USAO. Defensively, Chayanne Rivas had 14 digs and Lianna Guajardo 13.
Stephens defeated USAO, 3-1, in the middle match. The Drovers' 25-20 victory in the third set marked the first set win in program history for the startup.
The Bulldogs make the short jaunt to Lindsborg to face Bethany on Tuesday evening in another KCAC matchup before hosting Central Christian College and the University of the Southwest (N.M.) in another triangular on Friday, September 9.
