Sunday Sweep Closes Out Homecoming Weekend for Baker Volleyball

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Despite a 3-1 loss to Mount Mercy on Saturday, the Baker volleyball team bounced back in a big way on Sunday to sweep Clarke and earn their first win in conference play to close out Homecoming Weekend.

To start the weekend, Baker hosted Mount Mercy on Saturday. Baker had three players reach double figures in kills as Aby Widhalm led the way with 13, while Kierra Hipple and Katilyn Stout each added 11 kills. Kierstyn Harmon and Taryn Dial combined for 41 assists in the match as Harmon collected 21 assists and Dial added 20.

Midway through set one, Baker trailed 15-11, but Mount Mercy would extend their lead to 21-12. At set point, Baker was able to score twice, but an error by the Wildcats ended set one, 25-16 and gave Mount Mercy a 1-0 lead in the match.

Baker trailed 5-3 in set two, but caught fire, scoring eight unanswered points to hold a commanding 12-5 lead. Baker would not slow down in the set, eventually stretching their lead to 20-8. A small run by the Mustangs ended with back-to-back attack errors as the Wildcats took set two, 25-14 and tied the match at one.

Both teams traded points throughout the early stages of the third set, but after Baker cut the lead down to 18-17, Mount Mercy went on a small run to hold a 23-20 lead. Baker would cut it to one point again at 23-22, but back-to-back kills for the Mustangs ended the set, giving Mount Mercy the 25-22 win.

Baker wouldn't go down easy in the fourth set, holding a lead late in the set. Both teams traded the lead back and forth over the next several points, but after a Mount Mercy timeout with Baker leading 23-22, the Mustangs scored the next three points to win set three, 25-23 and win the match, 3-1.

Baker then looked to bounce back on Sunday as they hosted Clarke University. The Wildcats had 40 kills in the match with 36 assists. Widhalm once again led the team with nine kills as eight different players collected at least one kill. Harmon led the 'Cats with 14 assists, while Dial had 12.

Neither team could pull away in set one, but with Clarke holding a 20-17 lead late, Baker scored three straight to tie it at 20 and force a timeout. Baker was able to eventually take the lead at 24-23, but an attack error tied it once again at 24. Baker then got a big kill from Meredith Brown, followed by a service ace from Alyssa Champane to give Baker the win in set one, 26-24.

Baker carried that momentum into set two, and midway through the set led 15-12. Late in the set, the Wildcats were able to stretch their lead to 23-19, but Clarke fought back to tie the game at 23. Baker was able to hold on to win the set after two attack errors from the Pride to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

With their sixth sweep of the season in sight, the Wildcats buckled down and dominated set three. Keeping the energy up throughout the entire set, the Wildcats won set three, 25-10 and swept Clarke to close out Homecoming Weekend.

Baker is now 8-3 on the season and 1-2 in Heart of America play. They will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 24, when they host Central Methodist at 7:00 p.m., inside the Collins Center.

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