Wildcats Earn Two Big Wins Over Peru State and Graceland

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Putting an end to a losing streak, the Baker volleyball team picked up two big wins at home over the weekend, defeating Peru State, 3-1, before sweeping Graceland on Saturday, 3-0.

Baker hosted Peru State on Friday evening, defeating the Bobcats, 3-1. Baker had three players reach double figures in kills as Kennedy Bryan led the team with 12, while Adelyn Bybee had 11 and Kierra Hipple added 10.

Early in the first set, Baker and Peru State traded points, but midway through the set, the Wildcats were able to gain a slim lead, 17-13. Baker was able to lead 24-21 late in the set and after the Bobcats cut the lead to 24-23, a kill from Bybee ended the set and gave Baker a 1-0 lead in the match.

Baker then trailed 6-4 early in set two, but the Wildcats got hot and went on an 8-2 run to take the lead at 12-8. Baker continued to pull away and eventually put the game away as they won the set, 25-16 and held a commanding 2-1 lead in the match.

Baker got out to a slow start in set three and was never able to recover from it. Baker trailed 20-14 late, but rattled off a big run to cut the lead to 23-21, but the Bobcats would eventually take the set, 25-23 to force a fourth set.

Once again, the Wildcats fell behind early, but this time, the Wildcats would fight back and eventually tie the game at 21. It wasn't until a kill from Kylie Murray gave Baker a 25-24 lead that the Wildcats had their first lead of the set. After back-to-back errors from Peru State, a service ace from Kierstyn Harmon gave Baker a 29-27 win and a 3-1 win in the match.

The 'Cats then hosted Graceland on Saturday where they swept the Yellowjackets, 3-0. Kennedy Bryan once again led the team with eight kills, while both Harmon and Emma Grossoehme had a team-high 12 assists.

Set one was a battle for both teams as Graceland held an early lead. Baker came firing back and tied the set at 18, then scored three unanswered points to take a 21-18 lead. Graceland was able to tie the set at 22, but Baker got two kills from Bryan and a service ace from Harmon to win the set, 25-22.

With set two tied at seven, Baker put together a huge 10-1 run and held a strong 17-8 lead in the second set. Baker then never let the Yellowjackets fight their way back as they won the set, 25-16 and led the match, 2-0.

Graceland led late in the third set, 24-20, but Baker would not give up. Baker took a 25-24 lead on a kill from Meredith Brown and eventually won the match on a service ace from Harmon once again.

Baker is now 8-11 overall on the season and 3-6 in Heart of America play. They will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 10, when they host Central Methodist at 7:00 p.m., inside the Collins Center.

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