AURORA, IL. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College volleyball team opened the Crossover Tournament with a thrilling five set match against Ashland University. The Panthers suffered a 3-2 defeat despite double-digit performances from Jaylen Mcewen and Nilah Roy.
 
The opening set was tied at 12 when the Panthers (9-13) took control by winning seven of the next nine points. The Eagles (11-7) recover ad narrowed the margin to 21-20 before Wesleyan finished the set with four straight points, Mcewen finished things off with final kill.
 
Ashland hit .286 in the second set and cruised to a 25-16 to square the match. The Panthers liked the near court better as they took a 2-1 lead after winning the third set 25-22. Ashland built a 16-9 lead in the third stanza, but six of seven points tied things up at 17. The Eagles committed six errors in the Panthers' run.
 
Two kills from Gabrielle Gallois in the final four points allowed the Panthers momentum into the fourth set. Ashland won eight of nine points to take control of the fourth frame, 14-7. The two teams exchanged points to the end as the Eagles again tied the match with a 25-19 win.
 
Sierra Morrow's kill in the fifth gave Wesleyan a 5-4 lead, but the Eagles made a charge to the finish. Ashland won 11 of the final 13 points to escape with a 15-7 win and take the non-conference match.
 
The Panthers were led by Mcewen who finished with 11 kills. Roy added 10 kills and 13 digs while Morrow recorded nine. Lydia Jackson set-up the offense with 19 assists while Nicole Venema added 13. Hannah Pierce finished with 15 digs.
 
The Panthers will play Quincy and William Jewell tomorrow as the Crossover continues at the Great Lakes Center. The match against the Hawks will begin at 10 AM while the contest against the Cardinals is slated at 4 PM.
 
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