Volleyball advances into KCAC Championship in sweep of Tabor
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kolby Rhoades prepares to put down match point in game three of the Coyotes' KCAC Tournament semifinal match against Tabor

Kansas Wesleyan won its 16th consecutive volleyball match to advance to the KCAC Postseason Tournament Championship as the Coyotes swept Tabor in three games – 30-21, 30-23, 30-16 – in the tournament semifinals on Thursday night at Muir Gymnasium.

The Coyotes, who had beaten the Bluejays twice during the regular season, struggled out of the gates. Game one was a close affair to start. Wesleyan (25-7) would take a 10-9 lead on an ace by Ashley Winters, before a service error would tie it back up at 10-all. Then Wesleyan’s offense awoke. Back to back kills from middle hitter Whitney DuBois got the offense untracked, sparking a 13-1 KWU run that put the Coyotes ahead 23-11.

Tabor would break the run with two straight points, but Wesleyan would capitalize on back to back errors from the Bluejays. Kolby Rhoades would make it 28-16, before three straight points by Tabor would be interrupted by a Winters kill setting up game point. Tabor would get two straight points before Rhoades would finish the game with a thunderous attack for the 30-21 win.

Wesleyan blew game two open at the start taking an 11-1 lead before Tabor (19-14) would get four in a row to make it 11-5. Sarah Claborn would end a long rally with a kill to make it 18-11 Coyotes, but Tabor would get three in a row to get within four at 18-14, forcing a Wesleyan timeout. Tabor would get within four again at 23-19, but two straight KWU points, including a DuBois kill would put Wesleyan in control as they got the 30-23 win in the second game.

Game three saw the Coyotes again jump out to a big lead. Wesleyan would score the first five points of the game, and would eventually string the lead out to 12-3. Tabor would score two straight, but Wesleyan would answer with four unanswered points as they cruised to a 30-16 win in game three.

Rhoades led Wesleyan with 15 kills, 17 digs and added two aces. Claborn chipped in 12 kills, Ashley Geasland had six and DuBois added five. Kelli Berg had 34 assists. Karissa Kent had 13 digs while Claborn added 10. Claborn led the Coyote blockers with one solo and one assist block.

KWU advances to the KCAC Postseason Tournament Championship on Saturday at Muir Gym. The Coyotes will face archrival Bethany, who advanced to the tournament championship after defeating Bethel in four games on Thursday night.

-- KWU SI --