Volleyball opens season with sweep of Oklahoma Wesleyan
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kolby Rhoades led the Coyotes with 15 kills and 15 digs in the season opener

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Kansas Wesleyan kicked off the 2006 sports season in a winning fashion, as the Lady Coyote Volleyball team swept Oklahoma Wesleyan 30-25, 30-25, 30-23 in the season opener.

“We looked really good at times,” head coach Gordon Reimer said. “And there were some times when it looked like we had only been practicing a week.”

Reimer’s Coyotes opened practice one week ago with high hopes heading into the season.

Junior transfer Kolby Rhoades led the Coyotes with 15 kills and 15 digs, while senior Kristal Griffeth added 12 kills and junior Kelli Berg had 11 to pace a balanced Coyote offensive attack.

Jenny Baney, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, had 33 assists to lead the Coyote setters. Berg led with seven aces, while Rhoades added three. Senior Sarah Carlson added 13 digs, while Naomi Hobayan added ten.

Reimer said he was pleased with the effort his team showed tonight.

“We played very well considering it was our first game, and it was on the road,” he said. “This was their second match already, while we’ve only been practicing a week. We played a lot better that I expected us to tonight.”

The Coyotes second action of the season will be on Friday at the Bellevue (Neb.) Tournament in Bellevue, Nebraska. The Coyotes (1-0) will play Grand View (Iowa) at 5:00, and then the host Bruins at 7:00. The tournament continues into Saturday, as the Coyotes face Morningside (Iowa) at 9:00 AM, and Peru State (Neb.) at 1:00 PM.

The Coyotes will open the home portion of the schedule next Wednesday as they host Sterling College in the KCAC Opener for both teams at Muir Gym beginning with the JV match at 6:00 PM, and the varsity soon to follow.

-- KWU SI --

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