Kansas Wesleyan's volleyball team is oozing confidence these days as evidenced by its 10-game winning streak.
That confidence was on full display in the second set of their Kansas Conference and homecoming match against Sterling on Saturday inside Mabee Arena.
The Warriors had built a 15-6 lead and appeared on their way to a game-tying victory. The Coyotes had other ideas, though.
They closed the gap but trailed 22-17 before going on a decisive and dazzling 8-1 surge – set point coming on a Maddy Beckett (JR/Halstead, Kan.) kill that gave them a 25-23 victory and 2-0 match lead.
"We didn't get a good start but they stayed super composed, mentally tough and just one by one they crept up on them," KWU coach Jessica Biegert said. "They had all the confidence in the world to finish it off.
"They changed their mindset of playing not to lose and playing to win. That's something that we've struggled with all year so it was fun to see it come out today."
The Coyotes finished off the Warriors with a 25-18 victory in the third set after winning the opening set 25-20. They improved to 17-7 overall, 6-2 in the KCAC; Sterling fell to 14-7 and 3-3.
Wesleyan prevailed by hitting at a sizzling .355 percentage and was led by Elizabeth Hardacre (JR/Kensington, Kan.)'s 15 kills and sensational .520 percentage. Beckett and Morgan Bryand (JR/Wichita, Kan.) added a dozen kills apiece.
Hardacre has becoming the Coyotes' kill machine, her powerful right arm making life miserable for opposing teams. She also had four block assists in the match.
"Consistency every game, she's really come out of her shell," Biegert said of Hardacre. "She's been our go-to for sure all season."
Hardacre agreed with her coach that a change in the Coyotes' mental approach was the key to victory Saturday.
"We made a mental decision to give it our all and I'm really proud of us for doing that," Hardacre said. "Today we came out and we wanted it so we did it."
Hardacre said the same applies to the team's approach this season.
"We came into this season and we had the same team from last year and we just made the decision to come in and do what we could," she said. "We've been doing that and it's been working."
Hardacre's quick to credit her teammates for her dominant play.
"I think the confidence that the team gives me is a big factor," she said. "We all have such a great time together and we're having so much fun, which I also think is a momentum builder and gives me a lot of confidence."
Beigert said the team's hot streak is a simple matter of giving its best each time out.
"We're just trying to play our best every game and get ready for Doane (Wednesday), which is 23 (in the NAIA poll) and we still have Tabor, Saint Mary and our conference (tournament) coming up that will push us," she said.
A 4-0 run extended KWU's 13-11 lead in the first set to 17-11 and Sterling got no closer than three the rest of the way. Leading 8-6 in the third set the Coyotes scored seven of the next nine points and cruised to the victory.
Josie Deckinger (SO/Wichita, Kan.) had 32 assists and Cortney Hanna (JR/Lawrence, Kan.) 14 for the match for Wesleyan. Emily Monson (SR/Cheney, Kan.) led the defense with 16 digs while Melinna Schumann (FR/Sabetha, Kan.) had nine.
"It's nice to be home on homecoming," Biegert said with a laugh. "Usually we're away."
The Doane match begins at 7 p.m. inside Mabee Arena. The Coyotes play Tabor at 7 p.m. next Saturday in Hillsboro in a key conference showdown.