Wildcats Fall to Moundbuilders, 3-1 in Non-Conference Finale

WINFIELD, Kan. – Baker volleyball fell to in-state opponent Southwestern, 3-1 in the Wildcats' final non-conference match of the season on Wednesday night in Winfield, Kan.

The Wildcats claimed the opening set in extra points, 26-24 to take an early lead, but the Moundbuilders won the next three sets on scores of 25-21, 25-21 and 26-24 to earn the non-conference victory.

Kierra Hipple led the BU attack with 14 kills while adding a couple of aces. Kylie Murray and Kennedy Bryan each had 11 kills and Emma Grossoehme notched her third straight double-double with 20 assists and 17 digs.

Facing a five-point deficit in the opening set, Baker rattled off six straight points with Murray connecting on two of her five kills in the set to spark the rally. An ace by Hipple brought the set even at 22-all before the Wildcats won four of the final six points to start off the match with a 26-24 victory.

The Moundbuilders struck back in the following set, going up by as much as 10 points in the frame to lead 20-10 at one point. The Wildcats refused to go down quietly though and sparked a late rally that saw them go on a 10-3 tear to make it a three-point ballgame before Southwestern held off the surge to escape with a 25-21 win and even the match at 1-1.

In the third set, both teams would go back and forth with an attack by Kierstyn Harmon giving Baker a 16-15 lead midway through the set. From there, seven of the next nine points would go in favor of the Moundbuilders as they created a late cushion to win the third by another four-point margin.

The hosts would carry its momentum over into the fourth set, building a 12-6 advantage before the Wildcats started to climb back with a kill by Hipple making it a three-point deficit. The intensity continued to build throughout the set as the two teams headed to extra points again, but this time it was Southwestern who tallied back-to-back attacks to claim the match.

Up next, the Wildcats head out for an Iowa road trip with matches at William Penn and Grand View this weekend, starting with a matchup against the Statesmen on Friday, Sept 22 at 7 p.m. in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

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