KWU Athletics
LAKE WALES, Fla. – Kansas Wesleyan women's volleyball opened its trip to Florida with a sweep of the Warner Royals on Thursday night at the Turner Athletic Center. The Coyotes won 25-16, 25-21, and concluded the match with an exciting 30-28 win in the final set.
The victory improved Wesleyan's record to 5-3, while Warner fell to 0-1 on the season.
Wesleyan jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the first set only to see Warner tie it up at 6-6. Three straight points from the Coyotes, including a kill by freshman Rylee Serpan (FR/Spring Hill, Kan.) and an ace from Morgan Bryand (SR/Wichita, Kan.) gave the Coyotes a 9-6 lead.
A kill by Elizabeth Hardacre (SR/Kensington, Kan.) pushed the lead out to 13-7 and Warner wasn't able to get closer than four points the rest of the set, the last time at 19-15 before the Coyotes scored six of the last seven points to win the set.
The second set was all Coyotes to start as KWU jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Coyotes led 21-11 when Warner made a push back, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to get within one at 22-21, before the Coyotes would score the final three points to take the set 25-21.
Set number three was a thriller. The Coyotes led 4-1 early, but Warner tied it at 6-6, and the lead was no more than a point for either team, until the Coyotes broke a 16-16 tie with three straight points to take a 19-16 lead. Warner got back within a point several times, until tying it at 23-all. A kill from Bryand gave the Coyotes match point at 24-23, but Warner tied it up.
A block by Alexis Utz (JR/Kansas City, Mo.) and Josie Deckinger (JR/Wichita, Kan.) gave the Coyotes another match point opportunity, but again Warner answered, and would take a 27-26 lead. A kill from Chelsea James (SR/Wichita, Kan.) tied the set at 27-all and a kill by Hardacre gave the Coyotes another match point chance. Again Warner tied it at 28. The Coyotes responded with a kill by Bryand setting up another match point, and a block by Utz and James closed it out 30-28 in favor of the Coyotes.
Hardacre had 11 kills to lead the Coyotes, while Bryand had 10. Kelcey Hund (JR/Leavenworth, Kan.) had 16 digs. Cortney Hanna (SR/Lawrence, Kan.) had 16 assists and Deckinger had 17. Hardacre and James each had four blocks.
The Coyotes are back in action again starting tomorrow in the Florida College Tournament in Temple Terrace. KWU faces Florida National at 11 a.m., then faces Warner again at 3 p.m., Central Time. On Saturday, KWU faces William Carey and Florida College.