Wildcats Fall to No. 21 Central Methodist, 3-0 in 2023 Finale

FAYETTE, Mo. - The Baker volleyball saw its 2023 campaign come to a close as the Wildcats fell to No. 21 Central Methodist in straight sets on Tuesday night in Fayette, Mo. in the regular-season finale for BU.

The Wildcats closed the books on a fall season that saw them go 9-17 overall and 4-12 in Heart play to match its most wins in a season since 2019.

CMU earned the finale sweep on scores of 25-9, 25-12 and 25-14 after hitting .354 over the course of the three-set match.

Kierra Hipple led the Baker attack with seven kills, while Olivia Deichmann hit .200 for the match and added six kills. Reese Kehl recorded 17 digs and Kierstyn Harmon tallied 10 assists to give the junior setter a total 401 assists in 2023.

In the opening set, the Eagles used a 7-0 run to get out to an early advantage before a set of kills by Hipple, Meredith Brown and Kennedy Brown made it a 12-7 deficit for BU. CMU went on another scoring spurt, winning 10 straight points to lead 22-8 before eventually claiming the set at 25-9.

Deichmann had a pair of successful attacks to open the second set for the Wildcats before Hipple connected on two more of her own to make the score 9-6 in favor of the hosts. The Eagles put together another 10-0 run to build a comfortable lead midway through the set with a kill by BU's Kylie Murray halting their rally. CMU went on to take a 2-0 lead in the match after finishing with a 25-12 win in the second.

After Baker took the first two points of the third set, the Eagles won the next six to go up 6-3 in the frame. A kill by Kady Vialpando and an ace by Alyssa Champane brought the Wildcats within four at 10-6 before the Eagles stretched its lead to double digits. A Delaney Franklin ace made it an eight-point deficit for the Wildcats, but CMU won five of the final seven points to clinch the set and the match.

The Wildcats celebrated their Senior Day this past Friday in their home finale against MidAmerica Nazarene, honoring seniors Delaney Franklin, Ashley Matthews and Caitlin Peters prior to the match for their contributions to the Baker volleyball program.

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