Kate Madsen's goal when was named interim coach of the Kansas Wesleyan men's volleyball team in January was to have the young Coyotes playing as well as they can in every match.
It's a work in progress but she feels her efforts are paying dividends.
"I tell them before every game all we can do is our best and I think that's really shown the last couple of games," Madsen said following KWU's 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20) sweep of Central Christian on Wednesday night inside Mabee Arena. "If we can walk away from the game feeling we played our best then I'm happy."
Madsen had plenty be happy about Wednesday as KWU notched its second victory of the season and second against Central Christian in its second home match.
The Coyotes finished with a solid .284 hitting percentage and had 33 assists, 32 digs and eight blocks/block assists despite being shorthanded.
"I think everyone came in with a really positive attitude," said Madsen, who completed her third season as an assistant on the KWU women's volleyball team in the fall. "It's really hard having to switch lineups but when people are playing like my libero (Jerry Chablay (FR/South Hackensack, N.J.)), who played outside (hitter) tonight, that was huge. And he really took over, he had a (.545 hitting percentage) so I can't be mad at that.
"It was really fun."
Viet Nguyen (FR/Wichita, Kan.) had another huge game for KWU finishing with a game-best 12 kills on a .333 percentage. Christopher Perez (FR/Denver, Colo.) had nine kills and Chablay seven. Angel Diaz (FR/Waukegan, Ill.) set the offense with 16 assists and Colton Sessions (FR/West Palm Beach, Fla.) 12 along with three service aces. Perez led the defense with 11 digs while Chablay had seven. Frank Kassem (FR/Miami, Fla.) added two assist blocks and one solo block.
Coaching men's volleyball is a new experience for Madsen but she, like her team, has adjusted on the fly quite well.
"I never really paid much attention to the guys' game," she said. "It's actually a lot different than people think. It's more power, it's much faster. Women are more control and have a strategic plan every time so that was a hard transition."
Madsen said teaching her team some fundamentals of the game was also imperative.
"Sometimes I feel like there were things that they didn't get growing up because it's not a sport boys play like the girls do," she said. "So, I feel like there are some holes that we have to fill in and I think we're getting there.
"I thought there was a lot of potential on the team and this was a culture building year. I really wanted to focus on it and hone in on and just kind of take off with it. They're all freshmen so I feel like it's a very good foundation to build on every single game."
KWU scored the first seven points and led 12-2 in the first set then closed it out by scoring five of the last six points.
The second set was closer. Leading 17-15 Wesleyan scored six consecutive points for a 23-15 lead and cruised to the victory.
Another fast start in the third set gave the Coyotes a 13-5 lead. Central Christian got as close as 24-20 but Nguyen's thunderous kill ended the set and match.
Central Christian hit just .039 percent for the match.
The Coyotes play one match Friday (William Penn) and two Saturday (Saint Ambrose and Goshen) in the William Penn Tournament in Oskaloosa, Iowa. They return to Mabee Arena on March 17 for their final home match of the season against Morningside, starting at 7 p.m.