Coyotes stun Bluejays to win eighth straight
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Melissa Harrington makes a pass during the fourth game of the Coyotes' upset win over Tabor

There’s no questioning who the hottest team in the KCAC is right now. Kansas Wesleyan won its eighth straight volleyball match with a four game upset win over top ranked Tabor College, 30-28, 30-20, 25-30, 30-27, Wednesday night at Muir Gym.

“This is the biggest win during my time at KWU,” head coach Gordon Reimer said. “It’s certainly the biggest win of the season for this team.”

Wesleyan jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game one, and pushed the lead to 11-6 before Tabor called a timeout. Tabor surged out of the break, scoring the next five points, tying things up at 11, forcing Reimer to call a timeout. A serve error by Tabor and a kill by two-time KCAC Player of the Week, Kolby Rhoades ignited a 3-0 run for the Coyotes, giving them a 14-11 lead. Tabor would respond, eventually tying it again at 15-all, before the Coyotes used another kill by Rhoades to start an 8-4 run to take a 23-19 lead, forcing another Bluejay timeout. Tabor again would use a five point run to take a 24-23 lead, but a 4-1 Wesleyan run capped by Rhoades hitting Tabor libero Traci Neufeld in the face with a huge kill. After a Tabor point, Whitney DuBois killed the ball for the Coyotes, but Tabor scored two more before a net call gave the ball back to the Coyotes, who were able to grab the 30-28 win.

Tabor jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second game, but Wesleyan fought back, using a 4-0 run to tie things up at 7-all. Wesleyan then used a 6-1 run to take a 13-8 lead. Wesleyan would hold the lead, extending its lead to 22-15, before Tabor would go on a 4-0 run to get within three at 22-19. Neufeld would launch a ball to the back wall, sparking the Wesleyan offense to life, as the Coyotes outscored Tabor 8-1 over the last nine points, as Melissa Harrington served an ace to give the Wesleyan a 30-20 win.

Both teams traded points back and forth to start game three, but a 3-0 run by the Bluejays gave them a 5-2 lead that the Coyotes were unable to overcome. Wesleyan got within two at 11-9 on a Kristal Griffeth kill, but could get no closer as a 4-1 Tabor run put them ahead 15-10, forcing a Wesleyan timeout. After another KWU timeout at 23-17, the Coyotes responded, getting within two at 27-25, but Tabor scored the last three points giving them a 30-25 win.

Wesleyan (16-10, 11-4) would take a big 6-1 lead in the final game, and would extend the lead to 9-3 before Tabor would go on a 7-2 run to get within one at 11-10. A kill by Ashley Winters would spark a Wesleyan 6-1 run, capped by a Naomi Hobayan ace to take a 16-11 lead. Tabor would rally with three straight points to get within two at 16-14, before Rhoades put down back to back kills to give the Coyotes an 18-14 lead. Tabor would get back within two at 21-19, before Kristal Griffeth would spark a 5-0 Wesleyan run to give the Coyotes at 26-19 lead. Tabor would fight back with four straight points, but two more Rhoades kills sandwiched a Tabor point setting up match point at 29-26. Tabor got one final point before the Coyotes finished the match, upsetting the KCAC leading Bluejays 30-27.

“We are getting over the hurdles now,” Reimer said. “We’ve come on strong as of late, winning our last eight matches. The girls are really wanting to win every time we walk on the floor, and that’s huge.”

Rhoades led the Wesleyan hitters with 25 kills, while Griffeth added 20.

“We hit the ball incredibly well tonight,” Reimer said. “Our offense really clicked tonight.”

Caitlan Rush and Landree MacLennan split time at the setter position, as Rush led with 31 assists and MacLennan had 11. Hobayan led the Coyotes with 22 digs, and two aces, while Rhoades also added 12 digs for the Coyotes. Griffeth led the blockers with two solo blocks and four assists.

The Coyotes are back in action against Bethel College on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 in Muir Gym.

-- KWU SI --