Box Score FAYETTE, Mo. (macbulldogs.com) ---
Lexi Kite (Thornton, Colo., Prairie View HS) posted her second double-double in as many days, but the McPherson College volleyball team fell to Central Methodist University, 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 25-20) on Saturday afternoon at Puckett Field House.
In the first set, the host Eagles (1-1) jumped out to a 4-1 lead. The Bulldogs (1-1) cut the advantage to just one at 10-9 before Central Methodist went on a 10-2 run to move ahead 20-11. McPherson rallied to cut the lead to two at 24-22, but CMU closed out the set on a kill by Darcy Latham.
The Bulldogs took the second set, primarily behind a 12-3 run that turned a 4-2 deficit into a 15-7 lead. Kite had four kills and an ace during the stretch. McPherson pushed the lead to 22-13 before Central Methodist was able to respond. The Eagles scored 10 of the next 12 to knot the score at 23. A Latham attack error gave the ball back to McPherson, which knotted the match at a set apiece on a kill by
Devrie Sombers (Colorado Springs, Colo., Pinecreek HS).
McPherson's offense was stifled in the third set as CMU opened the frame with a 12-4 run that the Bulldogs were unable to overcome. McPherson had six errors and was limited to six kills for a .000 attack percentage.
The Eagles led most of the fourth set, but the Bulldogs were able to put together an 8-2 run to turn a 16-11 deficit into a 19-18 lead. Central Methodist scored seven of the final eight points to close out the match.
Complete individual statistics were not immediately available.
The Bulldogs open the home slate Wednesday evening with a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference match against Sterling College. First serve for the varsity match is slated for 7 p.m. The match will serve as the conference opener for both schools.
