Coyotes cruise past Southwestern
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kolby Rhoades (3 in white) hammers down match point in game three as the Coyotes won their fourth straight match with a 3-0 sweep over Southwestern

Kansas Wesleyan cruised past an outmatched Southwestern Moundbuilder team 30-11, 30-17, 30-18 on Wednesday night at Muir Gym.

Despite the ‘Builders scoring the first point in each of the first two games, it was all Wesleyan from start to finish.

Kansas Wesleyan coach Gordon Reimer feels his team is playing its best volleyball of the season.

“We are playing great right now,” Reimer said. “We have had high expectations all season long, and now is the time to live up to them… and we are.”

The Coyotes’ record the last four matches is indicative of the strong play of late. Four wins, 12 games for Wesleyan, all in blow out fashion. The closest game of the twelve being 30-26 in the first game at Saint Mary last Thursday night.

“Before the match tonight, I told the girls that great teams have to play at a high level no matter who the opponent is, and I felt we did just that against a struggling team tonight,” Reimer said.

After scoring the first point of the match, Southwestern quickly found themselves down 8-1 before a Wesleyan error gave them the ball back at 8-2. Eight of the ‘Builders 11 first game points were on Wesleyan miscues, but the Coyotes wasted no time in putting Southwestern away 30-11 on a thunderous game ending kill by junior Kolby Rhoades.

Game two was a little closer affair, as the ‘Builders took brief 9-8 lead following a Wesleyan timeout. It was the last lead they would have as the Coyotes used a 5-2 run to take a 13-10 into a Southwestern timeout. The Coyotes extended the lead to 22-16, when Southwestern called its second timeout of the game, but the Coyotes ran off five straight points after the break, capping a 7-0 run to cruise to a 30-17 win.

Wesleyan (12-10, 7-4) jumped out to an early lead in game three and held off a early Southwestern charge to complete the sweep. Southwestern called a timeout down 15-10, and got back within three at 15-12 before the Coyotes took over outscoring the ‘Builders 9-3 over the next 12 points to take a 24-15 lead into another ‘Builder timeout. KWU had match point at 29-16, but two Southwestern kills got them within 11 at 29-18, before Rhoades put the exclamation mark on the match with a big kill to close out the game 30-18.

“I can’t say enough about how Kolby (Rhoades) and Landree (MacLennan) are playing right now,” Reimer said. “Landree is finally settling in at the setter position, getting familiar with the hitters, and Kolby is just a natural talent. She can put the ball down with authority.”

Reimer also noted the play of libero Naomi Hobayan has sparked his team’s recent winning streak. “Naomi comes to play every night. She played well tonight, and continues to be a solid player in the back row for us.”

Rhoades led the Coyote charge with 19 kills, while Kristal Griffeth added nine. MacLennan had 35 assists for Wesleyan, while Hobayan had seven aces in 30 serves, and had 21 digs to anchor the back row. Ashley Winters led the blockers with two solo blocks.

The Coyotes are back in action again next Tuesday as McPherson comes to Muir Gym. The junior varsity match begins at 6:00 and the varsity follows at 7:00.

-- KWU SI --