By Jeremy Nelson
Being nationally ranked for the first time in program history, seems to agree with the McPherson College volleyball team. The Bulldogs, ranked #24 in the latest NAIA top 25 poll, went to work on Saturday in a non-conference match up with the Wayland Baptist University Pioneers out of the Sooner Athletic Conference, and came away with a straight sets victory, improving their record to 16-1.
Like a boxing match, the Bulldogs and Pioneers sort of felt each other out in the opening set, trading points through the first 9 points of the match. Leading 5-4,
Rianne Richard (Sr. Wichta, Kan.), subbed in to serve, and helped the Bulldogs on a 7-0 run to put them up 12-4. A few points later they led the Pioneers 14-8, before going on another 8-1 run to take control of the set 22-9. Leah Seiler (Sr. Fort Lupton, Colo.) had 5 kills during the run and finished with 6 in the set. That 8 point run gave the Bulldogs control of the set, and they closed it out 25-11.
The Pioneers scored the first two points of the second set, but then
Kelsey Doll (Fr. Salina, Kan.) took over. She got her team on the board with a kill off of a set from
Kaitlyn Heinis (Jr. Ovieda, Flo.) and then after the sideout, she led the Bulldogs on a 19-0 run, serving 20 straight points. During that epic run, the Bulldogs recorded 9 kills, and over half of them coming from Seiler again. When the smoke cleared, and the Bulldogs finally had to rotate for only a second time in the set, they led the Pioneers 20-3. From there they put it on cruise control and took set the set 25-8.
The Pioneers bounced back in set three and jumped out to a 3-1 lead. Again, the Bulldogs adjusted and quickly got back on track scoring 5 unanswered points and taking a 6-3 lead. At the midway point of the set, the Mac ladies had extended their lead to 6 points, 13-7. No huge runs for the Bulldogs in set 3, instead they consistently and methodically strung points together slowly building up their lead. In the end, the Pioneers didn't have an answer for the Bulldog offense, and the Bulldogs completed the sweep, winning set 3, 25-15.
Offensively, the Bulldogs had a .336 hitting percentage, recording 44 kills on 113 attack attempts with only 6 errors. They were led by the monster effort of Seiler, who finished the match hitting .600 with 16 kills on 25 swings and only 1 error. Heinis, who split time as the primary setter with
Skylar Lane (So. Castle Pines, Colo.), assisted on 23 of the 44 Bulldog kills. Lane was also in double digits in assists, notching 10. On defense, the Bulldogs were led by libero
Jamie Siess (Jr. Tecumseh, Kan.), who was all over the floor recording 23 defensive digs.
"Today's match against Wayland Baptist was almost flawless," said Bulldog head coach
Jessica Cleveland. "We played best we ever have as a team regardless of who was playing. Seiler led us offensively with 17 kills while Heinis did a great job connecting with hitters with 23 assists." She concluded by adding, "This was a great bounce back from our exhausting Tabor match earlier in the week."
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With the win, the Bulldogs move to 16-1. They will look to remain perfect in KCAC play, when they take the court again next Wednesday on the road at Southwestern College. First serve on Wednesday is slated for 7:00 pm in Winfield, Kansas.
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