McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College volleyball team took the first two sets against Ottawa University but couldn't close out the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) match, falling in five sets (17-25, 25-27, 25-15, 25-21, 15-12) Saturday afternoon at the Sport Center.
The Bulldogs (6-4, 2-2 KCAC) jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first set and didn't look back. Both teams had 14 kills in the frame but McPherson committed just two errors to Ottawa's eight for a .364 attack percentage.
The Braves (11-5, 5-0 KCAC), who were receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top 25, took the big lead to open the second set, leading 8-2 before McPherson head coach
Jessica Cleveland requested a time out. The Bulldogs responded out of the break with four straight points to kick off a 12-4 run that put the hosts up 14-12.
The teams traded the lead in the late stages of the set with Ottawa serving at 25-24 to tie the match, but McPherson scored the final three points capped by a kill from
Bree Wallace (Wichita, Kan., East HS) putting the Bulldogs up two sets to zero.
Ottawa led from start to finish in the third set, taking advantage of six McPherson attack errors to build an 8-0 advantage en route to a 25-15 victory. The Bulldogs had just 10 kills in the set paired with seven errors.
The Bulldogs held a slim lead for much of the early going in the fourth set and led 20-17 on another Wallace kill before the Braves responded with an 8-1 run to close out the frame and force a deciding set.
In the final set, Ottawa jumped out to an 8-3 lead at the side change and tacked on another point courtesy of a service ace before McPherson could rally. The Bulldogs used a 6-2 run to cut the Braves' advantage to just two at 11-9. The teams traded points from there, with Ottawa closing out the match on a kill by Taylor Fortner.
Lexi Kite (Thornton, Colo., Prairie View HS) led the Bulldogs with 18 kills, 27 digs and a pair of solo blocks.
Riley Bradbury (Highlands Ranch, Colo., Rock Canyon HS) added 17 kills, while
Leia Seiler (Fort Lupton, Colo., Fort Lupton HS) and Wallace added 11 kills.
Rianne Richard (Wichita, Kan., Neosho CC) added 25 digs and
Jamie Siess (Tecumseh, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) 20.
Kaitlyn Heinis (Oviedo, Fla., Paul J. Hagerty HS) and
Morgan Little (Las Vegas, Nev., Hutchinson CC) posted 28 and 26 assists, respectively, accounting for 54 of the Bulldogs' 61 assists.
Hall finished with 20 kills to lead all players, while Fortner added 11 kills and 23 digs. Whittington chipped in with 11 kills and 18 digs and Liz Heit had 20 digs. Makayla Aspegren and Breanna Vail also added nine kills apiece. Adriana Skipper had a double-double with 47 assists and 12 digs.
"It was another five-set heartbreaker against Ottawa," said Cleveland. "Kite led the team offensively and defensively. Riley had another dominant day offensively that kep our hitting efficiency high. We played confidently in the first two sets and then reverted to the underdog mentality from last season. We are close to finishing and will train to get over that hump."
The Bulldogs close out their three-match homestand Wednesday night against rival Tabor College. First serve for the varsity match is slated for 7 p.m.
