HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The McPherson College Bulldogs fell 3-1 to the fifth-seeded Ottawa University Braves in the quarterfinal round of the KCAC tournament Friday (Nov. 10) at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
"This year has been one to remember," head coach Cory Cahill said. "So many unforgettable memories."
MC rolled to a 25-16 win in the opening set, thanks to 19 kills and a .318 attacking percentage. The Bulldogs rattled off seven straight points that included a pair of kills from both Hadley Waldren and Kenzie Cooper to break a 12-12 gridlock.
However, the second set started with an 8-3 Braves run, forcing the Bulldogs to take a timeout. MC battled back thanks to four straight points, capped off by an ace by Cynarah Rodriguez to level the score at 16 apiece.
The teams traded points until a 3-0 spurt by the Braves put them on top 21-18, but the Bulldogs answered with three straight points of their own to even it once again. However, the Braves closed it out with four of the final five points to win 25-22.
Ottawa took a 2-1 lead in the match, using a 9-1 run to take a 23-14 lead, before winning 25-17.
The fourth set was back-and-forth early on until an 8-0 burst by the Braves gave them a 16-10 advantage and all the momentum. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 21-17 late, but from there it was all Ottawa, winning the fourth set 25-18.
Katelyn Moore finished with a team-high 20 kills, 15 digs, and three service aces, while Zoe Fernandez added 13 kills. Rodriguez recorded 44 assists and six kills. Moriah Delgado led the way with 18 digs, while Becca Steffen added 13 digs and Kenzie Cooper finished with 11 digs.
"Thank you to the seniors who have laid a foundation for those to come after," Cahill said. "Now we look to the next step and have a great group of returners to help us get there."
The Bulldogs season comes to an end with a 19-8 record and a 9-4 mark in the KCAC in Cahill's fifth season at the helm.
