BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Kansas Wesleyan volleyball shook off the rust from a week off, set by set, and came away with a sweep of the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles on Wednesday night at the Mueller Sports Center. The Coyotes won by set scores of 26-24, 25-21, 25-16.
It was the ninth straight win for the Coyotes, who return home for the first time in the month October on Saturday, hosting Sterling at 11 a.m. inside Mabee Arena as part of Homecoming 2021.
The Coyotes had a 9-4 lead in the opening set, but OKWU came back to tie things up at 10-all. Three straight by the Coyotes on kills by Melinna Schumann (FR/Sabetha, Kan.), a OKWU ball handling error and a kill by Elizabeth Hardacre (JR/Kensington, Kan.) gave the Coyotes a 13-10 lead. Three straight right back by the Eagles tied it again, and the Coyotes would push out to a 17-14 lead in the set. Again, the Eagles drew even, only to see KWU take a 20-18 lead in the set. OKWU took a 22-20 lead in the set, but two straight for the Coyotes evened things up at 22-all.
OKWU led 23-22, but the Coyotes tied it on a Hardacre kill and took the lead on another handing error by the Eagles. OKWU tied it at 24, but two straight by the Coyotes ended the set in KWU's favor.
In the second, OKWU built as much as a 12-8 lead before the Coyotes came back. Back to back kills by Morgan Bryand (JR/Wichita, Kan.) got KWU back within a point at 13-12, and then back to back kills by Ryann Kats (SR/Prairie View, Kan.) drew KWU even at 14-all. A kill by Malia Mack (JR/Joplin, Mo.) gave KWU the lead in the set. The lead went back and forth until the Coyotes came back from a 19-18 deficit, scoring three straight to take a 21-19 lead. OKWU tied it at 21, but the Coyotes closed the set scoring the final four points to take the set and a 2-0 match lead.
The host Eagles raced out to a 5-1 lead in the third set, but the Coyotes did not waver, tying the score at 6-6 and take a 7-6 lead. OKWU tied it up at 8-8 before KWU pushed out to an 11-8 lead. The Eagles got within a point at 12-11, but four straight by the Coyotes made it 16-11 and KWU never looked back taking the set 25-16.
Bryand led the Coyotes with 13 kills, while Hardacre added 10. Emily Monson (SR/Cheney, Kan.) had an incredible 24 digs in the match, averaging eight per set. Mack had five blocks. Josie Deckinger (SO/Wichita, Kan.) matched her jersey number with 23 assists.