McPherson, Kan. – On Saturday, No. 9 McPherson College hosted No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan University for a Top 10 matchup. Both teams came into the matchup with only one loss on the season and looked to remain perfect in conference play.
The Basics
Location: Holman Fieldhouse
Score: MC 3, OWU 1
Records: MC 22-1 (KCAC 5-0), OWU 16-2 (KCAC 5-1)
How it Happened
Oklahoma Wesleyan jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the opening set, but McPherson quickly answered with two straight points to even the score at 3-3. The set remained tightly contested, with both teams trading points throughout. The Eagles grabbed a narrow 23-22 advantage late, prompting the Bulldogs to call their first timeout of the match. Coming out of the huddle,
Brooke McHale delivered a clutch kill to tie it once again, but the Eagles claimed three of the final four points to secure a 26-24 win in set one.
Similar to the first set, the Eagles grabbed an early 3-1 lead before the Bulldogs battled back to even the score at 3-3. The teams battled through a tight stretch until McPherson went on a three-point run to pull ahead 13-10, prompting an Oklahoma Wesleyan timeout. The Eagles claimed the first point out of the break, but the Bulldogs responded with a kill and block from
Katie Warden and
Enya Fierens to extend the lead to 16-11. Behind six kills from McHale, McPherson controlled the remainder of the set, winning 25-17 to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set began as a tight battle with the teams going point for point early. After Oklahoma Wesleyan evened the score at 10-10, the Bulldogs gained momentum, building a four-point lead to take control and force an Eagles timeout. Oklahoma Wesleyan cut the deficit in half out of the break, but McPherson answered with three straight points – a kill by
Kaylee Stegora and two Oklahoma Wesleyan miscues – to reach set point. Warden sealed the set for McPherson with a cross-court kill that landed just inside the line, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs flipped momentum to start set four, jumping put to a 2-0 lead before the Eagles quickly pulled even. Oklahoma Wesleyan went on a four-point run, but McPherson went on a surge of their own to take a 12-11 lead. The Bulldogs continued to push, building a three-point advantage behind two big swings from McHale, forcing an Eagles timeout. Out of the break, McPherson kept the pressure on with back-to-back blocks from
Roxana Varela Parra and Stegora to extend their lead to five. McHale then capped off the night in style, delivering her 24
th kill – a season high – to close out the match for the Bulldogs.
Supporting McHale's standout effort, Fierens delivered 15 kills, four blocks, and a pair of aces for the bulldogs. Setter Varela Parra kept the offense rolling, dishing out 58 assist – an average of 14.5 per set – in a stellar performance.
Up Next
The Bulldogs are back at Holman Fieldhouse on Wednesday to host Bethel College. First serve is slated for 7:00 PM.
