Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball dropped a hard-fought match against an undefeated Oklahoma City University team on Saturday in the Coyote Classic in four sets.
Coyote newcomer Ivi Marcolino was outstanding for the Coyotes registering 26 kills in the match.
Wesleyan fell to the Stars 24-26, 16-25, 25-18, 24-26 at Mabee Arena.
Oklahoma City remained undefeated on the season as the Stars also have wins over No. 12 Oklahoma Wesleyan, Evangel and Texas A&M-Texarkana on the season.
Marcolino's 26 kills was the most for a Coyote player in a single match since Rylee Serpan had 27 against Bellevue in 2023.
The opening set was back and forth as the Coyotes led 10-7 but five straight points by OCU gave the Stars a 12-10 lead. Wesleyan tied it at 12 on Marcolino's service ace, but again the Stars took a 15-12 lead. OCU led 18-16 when the Coyotes scored four straight capped by a block by Avery Conner and Blair Pennington to take a 20-18 lead.
The Coyotes led 23-20 on a kill by Marcolino but the Stars scored the next three to tie it. A service error gave the Coyotes a chance to take the set, but OCU scored the final three points to take the set.
The second set was back and forth early until OCU pulled out to a 15-9 lead. The Coyotes could not get a rally together as OCU won the set 25-16.
Wesleyan powered out to an 8-3 lead in the third set and pushed the lead out to 13-6. OCU made a run getting within three, but the Coyotes answered right back with four straight to take a 17-10 lead. Campbell Bohling's kill would close out the set.
OCU took a 9-2 lead in the fourth, but the Coyotes battled back getting within two at 15-13 on a block by Blair Pennington and Camryn Lewis.
KWU trailed 19-14 but scored the next five points to tie things up at 19-all. Blair Pennington's kill gave the Coyotes a chance to win the set and force a fifth, but OCU scored the final three points to win the match.
Marcolino was the only Coyote in double figures in kills. Blair Pennington had 42 assists and 15 digs. Tristyn Hedman added 16 digs and Bohling had 14. Lewis had six blocks, five of them assisted.