Wildcats Drop Conference Road Match at (RV) Benedictine, 3-0

ATCHISON, Kan. – Coming off a five-set victory in its last road outing, the Baker volleyball team fell in straight sets to (RV) Benedictine on scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-16 on Saturday afternoon in Atchison, Kan.

Reese Kehl recorded 16 digs in the match, her most in a game since tallying 17 digs against Grand View on Sept. 23. Kierra Hipple and Meredith Brown each had six kills to lead the Baker attack, while Kierstyn Harmon (9) and Emma Grossoehme (8) combined for 17 assists in the game.

Baker took control of the match early on, going up by three in the opening set after a couple of kills by Hipple and Brie Reedy. With the Wildcats leading 10-7, the Ravens claimed 11 of the next 13 points to swing the momentum in their favor. BU worked its way back though and eventually tied the match at 21-all on an attack by Brown, but the Ravens won four straight points to take the first set, 25-21.

The Wildcats started off the second set with back-to-back kills by Kylie Murray before Benedictine worked up an 11-6 lead. Baker mounted another late-set rally with an attack by Dana Nichols making it a two-point ballgame at 20-18. The Ravens would respond in similar fashion as well, closing out their second-set victory with a 5-0 run.

In the third set, the Ravens sprung out to a quick 10-2 lead and stretched its cushion out to double digits before the Wildcats posted a string of points on Harmon's serve to cut their deficit to 21-14. Benedictine would claim the set and the match from there though, winning the frame 25-16 to earn the conference sweep.

Heading into the home stretch of the 2023 regular season, the Wildcats return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 24 with a home match against Heart opponent Missouri Valley set to begin at 7 p.m. inside the Collins Center in Baldwin City.

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