Wildcats Start Strong, Fall on the Road at Culver-Stockton

CANTON, Mo. - An opening-set victory wasn't enough to help Baker volleyball snap its recent late-season slide as BU fell on the road at Culver-Stockton, 3-1 on Saturday night in Canton, Mo.

The Wildcats won in extra points in the first set, 26-24, but C-SC took the next three on scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-19 to earn its 15th win of the season.

Baker reached double-digit aces for the eighth time this year with 11 aces in the match, but Culver-Stockton racked up 18 aces of its own to cause problems for BU from the service line.

Aby Widhalm led BU with 13 kills and added 15 digs as well, while Kylie Murray totaled seven kills and a team-high three aces. Kierstyn Harmon (15) and Taryn Dial (14) combined for almost 30 assists in the match, helping set up a Baker attack that hit .120 on the day.

After C-SC took the first few points of set one, Kennedy Bryan came through with an ace to put BU on top, but the hosts would reclaim the advantage and take a 12-8 lead. Kills by Bryan, Murray and Olivia Deichmann helped Baker climb back and eventually take the lead on an attack from Widhalm to make it 17-16.

With C-SC jumping back in front and coming within two points of claiming the first set, Baker mounted an incredible late rally that saw them win seven of the last eight points to steal the opening frame, 26-24.

Back-to-back swings from Bryan and Widhalm tied things up early on in set two before Culver-Stockton took a five-point lead during multiple stretches. Trailing 18-13, BU looked to come through with a second straight late rally with Murray and Kaitlyn Stout connecting on a couple of kills to pull Baker within two. C-SC would hang on though to tie the match with a 25-22 win in the second set.

In the third set, Baker came out with an early lead for the first time in the match, carrying a one-point cushion until Culver-Stockton put together a 6-1 run to go in front, 18-14. A kill by Dana Nichols helped to halt the spurt and Meredith Brown posted a set of attacks, but C-SC closed out the set with a 7-2 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Culver-Stockton stormed out in the third and won eight of the first nine points before pushing its lead out to double digits at 16-6. An ace by Emma Grossoehme along with a couple of Widhalm kills trimmed Baker's deficit.

Facing an 11-point hole, BU refused to go down quietly and came back with another late charge to make things interesting, fighting all the way back to get within three. Murray bagged all three of her aces to lead the comeback with her third once making it a 22-19 ballgame. C-SC regrouped to avoid disaster and won three straight points to defend its home court with a 3-1 victory.

Down to the last three matches of the 2024 regular season, Baker holds a 10-13 overall record and a 3-11 record in Heart play.

The Wildcats will host their final home stand of the regular season with matches against Grand View and William Penn next weekend, beginning with a Friday night match against the Vikings on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Collins Center.

#BakerBuildsChampions