CANTON, Mo.. - Kansas Wesleyan University Men's Volleyball team continued Heart of America conference play this afternoon as they visited the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats. The Coyotes battled the Wildcats in a close match with the Coyotes coming out on top; winning 3-1 with scores of 25-23, 27-29, 29-27, 25-19.
To start set one was neck in neck from the start with neither team having a lead larger than three points. KWU had to answer after a quick punch by C-SC game them the 22-20 lead. The Coyotes would respond with a kill by Ryan Wagner from the set by Ethan Ricketts. C-SC then gifted KWU a point with an attack error. The Coyotes then gave the point right back with a service error to tie things up at 23-23. The Coyotes would then get the next point off of a block by Justin Burras and Ryan Wagner and seal the deal with another block to Ryan Wagner for the 25th point to win the first 25-23.
The second set brought even more back and forth action and going beyond the 25 point cap after a service error by KWU tied it up at 25-25. The Wildcats then capitalized with a kill but the Coyotes quickly reopened with a kill of their own by Jaron Lindsay. An attack error by KWU would give that point right back putting the score at 27-27. The Wildcats went on to put to kills together and claim the second set 27-29. This would tie the match at 1-1.
The third set brought the same energy and hype as set two. KWU nearly found a way to win it in 25 points but the Wildcats found a way to tie things up. A kill by Zayin Martinez would give the Coyotes the 26-25 advantage until Wildcat kill tied it up again at 26 all. C-SC then gave KWU a point with an attack error but claim it back with another kill to take us to 27-27. Justin Burras came up clutch for the Coyotes as he collected another kill to give KWU the 28-27 lead and strong net presence but the Coyotes forced an attack error by the wildcats. This error would make the score 29-27 and give KWU the third set now leading 2-1 in the match.
After weathering the storm of three really tight sets KWU was one set away from getting out of Canton with a win. They started the fourth set just like the first three with a back and forth duel until the Coyotes started to build a lead with kills by Zayin Martinez and Colin Lindo, and an attack error by the Wildcats' Jack Laney. Along with a few Wildcat attack errors the Coyotes found themselves out front 19-15. The Coyotes would hold this lead and clinch the forth set 25-29 and secure the match win 3-1.
The Coyotes improve to 5-7 overall and 2-4 in Heart of America Conference play.