McPherson, Kan. – For the first time in program history, the McPherson College volleyball team, punched their ticket to the final site of the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament. The Bulldogs (33-2) made the field with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Texas Wesleyan University Rams in the National Tournament Opening round on Saturday.
The Bulldogs played the match on their home floor, having been selected by the NAIA to be one of the opening round sites. There were a few fans who made the trip up from Texas to support the Rams, but for the most part, the Sport Center was sea of red in support of the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the opening set, jumping out to a 12-7 lead, and it looked like they were going to cruise to an easy victory. The Rams had other ideas, and they began chipping away at the Bulldog lead, and thirteen points later, they had tied the set at 16. After a timeout, the Bulldogs responded took a two point lead 18-16, and looked to be back in control. Again the Rams wouldn't go away, and down the stretch, they outscored the Bulldogs 9-2, to steal the first set 25-21.
The Bulldogs seemed to be struggling a little bit with nerves, and they got down early in set two, 5-2. They quickly got their feet under them, and went on a 4-0 run to take a 7-5 lead. Later in the set, they would extend the lead to 12-7, and looked like they were on their way to leveling the match. But like the first set, the Bulldogs allowed the Rams back into the set. The two teams went back and forth late in the set, but in the end, the Rams edged out the Bulldogs 26-24 to take a 2 sets to none lead in the match.
With their season on the line and their backs up against the wall, the Bulldogs responded by taking set 3, 25-16. The Rams took the first two points of the set, but from there, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 run and took a 4-2 lead and never looked back. The Rams had frustrated the Bulldog hitters in the first two sets, coming up with some big blocks, and if they didn't block the Bulldogs at the point of attack, the back line of the Rams, came up with some crazy digs to keep the ball alive.
In the 3
rd set, the Bulldog hitters started heating up, and they started finding the holes in the Rams' defense. They kept things rolling into the 4
th set, winning the set 25-22, and leveling the match 2-2. Things were close in set four, through the midway point. The set was level at 13, and then the Rams took a two point lead 15-13, swinging the momentum in their favor. The Bulldogs finally got the match square again at 18, and then things went back and forth for several points. Mac finally got the edge, and took a two point lead at 24-22, and then squared things up winning the set on the next point.
The Bulldogs are no stranger to five set matches this season. They went the distance in seven other matches this year, and they were a perfect 7-0 in those matches. They have thrived under the pressure of big matches this season, and on Saturday, they got another opportunity.
To the Rams' credit, it didn't seem to phase them too much that they had been a set away stunning the Bulldogs on their home floor, only to have the home team come storming back to stave off elimination and win back to back sets to level the match. They served first in the final set, and won the first point. The Bulldogs responded by winning the next two points to take a 2-1 lead. The set was tight, but when the teams switched ends of the floor, the Bulldogs were holding a slim two point lead 8-6. After the switch, the Bulldogs won back to back points to open up a four point lead 10-6. A huge ace by
Devrie Sombers (Sr. Colorado Springs, Colo.), one of five she had on the day, put the Bulldogs up 11-6, and from there they finished off the Rams 15-11, to secure their spot in the final 32 at Nationals.
Lexi Kite (Sr. Thornton, Colo.), who struggled to find her rhythm in the first two sets, got things going in the final three sets, to finish with 17 kills in the match. She was joined in double figures by
Riley Bradbury (So. Highlands Ranch, Colo.). She came up with some huge swings late in set four to help keep the Bulldogs alive, and finished the match with 14 kills.
Jamie Siess (Jr. Tecumseh, Kan.) led the Bulldogs on the back line with 25 defensive digs, though kite was right behind her with 24. Sombers also had a big match for the Bulldogs. In addition to her five service aces, she came up with eight big kills, and four assisted blocks.
Bulldog head coach,
Jessica Cleveland, who sat calmly on the bench and watched as her 32-2 Bulldogs were faced with elimination, pointed to her senior leaders as the reason for the comeback. "We were down 0-2 and bounced back with Kite leading the offense and taking control of the defense. Sombers kept the team driven and passionate to fight through the 5 set win. They are resilient and I'm so proud of them for proving to the KCAC and ourselves we deserve to be in Iowa and competing with the best in the nation."
At the final site in Sioux City, Iowa, the final 32 teams are placed in eight pools of four. After three rounds of pool play, the top two from each pool will make it into the round of 16. From there it is win or go home. Pool assignments will be released on Sunday afternoon, and the Bulldogs will begin making preparations for a run at the national title.
