KWU Athletics
HASTINGS, Neb. – Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball split its first two matches in the Hastings College Classic on Friday at Lynn Farrell Arena. The Coyotes lost to host Hastings in straight sets, and defeated Mid-America Christian in four sets.
HASTINGS 3, KWU 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-22): The Coyotes fell behind early in the opening set, and couldn't recover. The Coyotes got as close as 23-19, but couldn't get any closer as Hastings took the opening set.
Wesleyan led 10-9 in the second set on a kill by Morgan Bryand (SR/Wichita, Kan.), and later extended the lead to 17-13 on a kill by Josie Deckinger (JR/Wichita, Kan.), but Hastings would come back and take the lead 19-17 at one point. KWU trailed by two after a Bryand kill at 21-19, but Hastings scored the final four points of the set.
KWU took the early lead in the third, but fell behind 20-16 and could not bounce back.
Bryand had 11 kills and Elizabeth Hardacre (SR/Kensington, Kan.) had 10 to lead the Coyotes. Kelcey Hund (JR/Leavenworth, Kan.) had 11 digs. Hardacre added two blocks.
KWU 3, MACU 1 (25-17, 24-26, 25-21, 25-21): A fast start in the first set pushed the Coyotes to the win in four sets over Mid-America Christian. KWU jumped out to a 6-1 lead, and wouldn't let the Evangels any closer than four points in the set. KWU led 19-15 when the Coyotes ran off four straight points ending on Rylee Serpan (FR/Spring Hill, Kan.)'s block.
Wesleyan jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the second set, but MACU came back to tie it at 20-all, then take a 22-21 lead. A kill from Hardacre gave the Coyotes set point chance, but MACU scored the final three points of the set to win.
The Coyotes wouldn't let the lead get away in the third set. With KWU leading by five at 19-14, MACU got within a point at 22-21, however the Coyotes would hold on thanks to a Bryand kill and a service ace from Alana Lamley (SO/Kansas City, Mo.) and a block by Alexis Utz (JR/Kansas City, Mo.) to win the set.
The fourth set went back and forth early, but the Coyotes took a 10-9 lead that would not be surrendered the rest of the night.
Bryand led the Coyotes again with 13 kills while Hardacre had 11. Hund had 22 digs. Serpan had four blocks to go along with seven kills.
The Coyotes play twice on Saturday, against Presentation at 2 p.m. and Panhandle State at 4 p.m.