KWU Athletics
Maddy Beckett (SR/Halstead, Kan.) is well aware her time as a Kansas Wesleyan volleyball player is quickly coming to an end.
After a stellar four-year career, she also knows every point, set and match are crucial in getting the Coyotes where they want to be at the end of the season for team that has a large and talented senior class.
"It's bittersweet," Beckett said following the Coyotes' 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-8) Kansas Conference and homecoming sweep of Tabor Friday night inside Mabee Arena. "Everything is coming to an end in my senior year but honestly I've been so blessed with the team this year. I'm just trying to soak everything up."
KWU improved to 21-6 overall and 6-2 in the KCAC with its second victory this week after sweeping Baker on Wednesday in Mabee Arena.
Morgan Bryand (SR/Wichita, Kan.) led a balanced Coyote attack with 10 kills while Elizabeth Hardacre (SR/Kensington, Kan.) had nine and Beckett and Rylee Serpan (FR/Spring Hill, Kan.) eight apiece. Hardacre also had six block assists.
"I think we keep surprising ourselves," Beckett said. "We might feel like we've peaked and we're playing our best volleyball and then the next game comes around and we play even better so it's just fun to see everyone improve."
KWU coach Jessica Biegert likes the way her team is playing since returning from a mini-break last week.
"They came back from break focused and ready to work hard," she said. "Baker got the rust off and now it's back to conference and serious play and no mercy. We have a lot to get better at and prepare for before the conference tournament."
Beckett agrees.
"I think we're always raising the standard, that's kind of our motto – raising the standard, never going backwards," she said. "We have really high hopes for the end of the season and our goal right now is to just put our heads down and work to get there."
The first set was close early on. Trailing 15-14 KWU took control with seven consecutive points, Beckett on the serve for the last six.
A similar scenario unfolded in the second set. Down 16-15 the Coyotes pulled away with four unanswered points and six of the next seven.
They dropped a homecoming hammer in the third set scoring 23 of the first 27 points.
Setter Josie Deckinger (JR/Wichita, Kan.) had 30 assists while Kelcey Hund (JR/Leavenworth, Kan.) had 12 digs and Melinna Schumann (SO/Sabetha, Kan.) 10 for KWU. Tabor finished with a .059 hitting percentage.
"Our communication was high throughout the entire game which was the biggest factor in our success," Beckett said "We worked really hard in practice this week and our game against Baker helped. And homecoming week obviously we were excited."
The Coyotes play three of their final four regular season matches on the road starting with Friends on Wednesday in Wichita. They play rival Bethany on November 2 in Mabee Arena on Senior Night in their final regular season home match.
The KCAC tournament begins November 8 at campus sites.
"We come in every day work hard," Beckett said. "We're just having fun and I think that's the biggest difference this year."