BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Kansas Wesleyan volleyball posted a 4-0 record on Friday and Saturday at the Olivet Nazarene Tournament. Three of the teams the Coyotes faced have vast postseason experience, including two teams that were in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round a year ago.
The Coyotes opened the tournament on Friday with a straight set win over Trinity Christian, a team that had appeared in the NAIA Postseason each of the last three years, including reaching the final site in 2018. KWU defeated the Trolls in straight sets 25-18, 25-18, 25-22.
Morgan Bryand (JR/Wichita) had 13 kills in the match while Elizabeth Hardacre (JR/Kensington) had 11 as the Coyotes hit an impressive .304 as a team in the match. Josie Deckinger (SO/Wichita) had 24 assists and Cortney Hanna (JR/Lawrence) had 17. Emily Monson (SR/Cheney) had 18 digs. Malia Mack (JR/Joplin, Mo.) and Hardacre each had four blocks.
Wesleyan next faced host Olivet Nazarene, a team that reach the NAIA Opening Round in last spring's split season. ONU won the first set 25-16 for the Coyotes came storming back winning the next three sets 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 to take the match.
Bryand was again outstanding for the Coyotes tallying 16 kills while hitting an incredible .455 for the match in the outside hitter position. Hardacre had 10 kills and Chelsea James (JR/Wichita) added eight. Deckinger finished with 26 assists and Hanna 17. Monson had 28 digs in the match and Hardacre added seven blocks.
Saturday morning was just as productive for the Coyotes, first facing Lincoln Christian, beating the Red Lions in straight sets – 25-14, 25-11, 25-11. All 16 players that made the trip for the Coyotes played in the match.
It was another outstanding offensive performance for the Coyotes who averaged 15 kills per set in the match and hit an outstanding .308 as a team. Bryand's nine kills led the Coyotes, while Mack and Maddy Beckett (JR/Halstead) had eight each. Melinna Schumann (FR/Sabetha) added seven kills without a hitting error. Monson added 20 digs in the match and Schumann had 13.
Wesleyan's final match saw the Coyotes take on Judson, a team that reached the national championship match in the 2019 National Christian College Association national tournament. The Coyotes would beat the Eagles in straight sets 25-22, 25-17, 25-23.
Morgan Bryand had another huge match with 16 kills while hitting .438. Hardacre had 10 kills and Beckett added nine. Deckinger had 32 assists and Hanna added 13. Monson was a huge force on back line defense with 27 digs, averaging 9.0 per set. Schumann had 20.
The Coyotes are back in action on Wednesday, hosting the Avila Eagles at 7 p.m. inside Mabee Arena.