Coyotes advance in KCAC Tournament with convincing win over Friends
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kolby Rhoades (3) puts down another kill over a Friends player in the first game of the KCAC Tournament Quarterfinals

Kansas Wesleyan entertained Friends in the first round of the KCAC Volleyball Tournament, and won in convincing fashion, eliminating the sixth seeded Falcons 30-15, 30-19, 30-18 on Tuesday night at Muir Gym. The Coyotes advance to play second seeded Bethel on Thursday in North Newton.

“I was very pleased with the way we played tonight,” head coach Gordon Reimer said. “We stepped up our level of play another notch tonight. Before the match I challenged the girls to push their limits higher, and they responded.”

The match started out looking like it was going to be another classic Friends vs. Kansas Wesleyan volleyball match (both regular season meetings went five game with the visitor winning), but in game one with the score tied at 10-all, Wesleyan went on a 20-5 run to pull away for an easy 30-15 win. The run featured 10 straight points by the Coyotes, capped by a kill by Whitney DuBois forcing a second Falcon timeout. Friends scored the first point after the break, but senior Kristal Griffeth started – and finished – another Coyote run, including back to back kills to seal the win.

Game two started out as another close game, as Friends was able to tie it at 6-all, but a 5-1 Wesleyan run capped by a kill by Melissa Harrington would give the Coyotes an 11-7 lead. Friends would get back within one at 12-11, but DuBois would spark another Coyote run to take a 19-15 lead. Wesleyan would coast into the game two win on a 9-3 run, 30-19.

Game three saw Wesleyan jump out to a big lead early, before the Falcons would mount a short rally. Griffeth would give Wesleyan the first point of the game, and the Coyotes would eventually bolt out to a 15-4 lead, before Friends rallied, scoring six straight points to get within five at 15-10. The Coyotes would get back on track thanks to a Friends serving error, and would put the game and match out of reach with a 13-6 run to take a 29-16 lead. Wesleyan had two chances at match point, but Friends was able to score two points before Griffeth closed things out for the Coyotes.

It was the 12th consecutive win for the Coyotes, but neither Reimer nor the rest of the team is counting anymore.

“Everyone keeps talking about this streak we are on, but we threw that out last Thursday when the regular season ended,” Reimer said. “This is the playoffs, we’ve started a new streak, one match at a time.”

Reimer also pointed out that he feels that his team is still trying to gain respect in the conference.

“I don’t think other teams are respecting us for who we are, or what we are doing yet,” he said. “It may take winning the (KCAC) tournament for teams to finally respect us.”

Rhoades, who was named KCAC Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive week on Tuesday morning, led the Coyotes with 17 kills, while Kelli Berg added 10 and DuBois and Griffeth had eight each. Caitlan Rush had 37 assists at setter tonight for the Coyotes. Naomi Hobayan led the Coyotes with 15 digs and two aces, while Harrington had 10 digs. Berg added two solo blocks, while Rhoades had five assisted blocks and DuBois had seven assisted blocks.

Wesleyan (20-10) advances to the tournament semifinals on Thursday to face second seeded Bethel at North Newton. Wesleyan and Bethel tied in the regular season standings, but after tiebreakers were applied, the Threshers were awarded the second seed. If the Coyotes knock off Bethel, they will face the winner of McPherson vs. Tabor on Saturday at the site of the higher seed.

-- KWU SI --