MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College volleyball team started the 2018 season on Friday with a 3-0 loss to Pittsburg State. The Panthers then erased a 2-0 deficit to Christian Brothers in the night-cap only to fall in the fifth set. Jaylen McEwen collected 21 kills in two matches while notching 14 kills and an ace in the five set thriller against the Bucs.
 
The Panthers (0-2) fell in straight sets 25-18, 25-11, and 26-24. An early 8-5 lead in the opening set evaporated as the Gorillas (1-0) won the next seven points to take a 12-8 lead and eventually the set. Pitt State found more separation in the second set running-out to a 14-3 lead and never looking back.
 
Wesleyan controlled most of the third set, taking a 15-11 lead after Nilah Roy's kill. A later error by the Gorillas allowed the Panthers to lead 20-17, but three straight points by Pitt State tied the set. Autumn Harris gave Wesleyan a chance to close-out the third set with her kill off of Lydia Jackson's set. However, trailing 24-22, the Gorillas ended the match with four straight points.
 
Both Sierra Morrow and Jaylen McEwen finished with seven kills. Nicole Venema led defensively with 18 digs while Kylie Foster dished out 14 assists.

In the day's finale against the host Buccaneers, a tight scoring opening set went the the way of the Bus 29-27. The lead grew to 2-0 after CBU took the second set 25-19. Wesleyan showed its resilience in the third set after falling behind 23-20. Back-to-back kills from McEwen followed by two more from Roy tied the set at 23. The Panthers were able to close out the set 26-24 with kills by Morrow and Jackson.

The Panthers road a hot start in the fourth set to square the match. Wesleyan won the set 25-17 after starting the frame on a 10-4 run. Not to be out done, the Panthers ended the frame on a 5-0 run to move to a decisive set.  The rally continued into the fifth set as Wesleyan recorded the first five points of the set, but the Bucs answered with a run of their own to eventually take a 9-7 lead. Venema's ace gave the Panthers a 12-11 lead, but CBU won some long rallies in the end to win the final four points. 

Four players reached double-figures in kills. Roy added 13 kills to complement McEwen's 14. Harris recorded 11 kills while Morrow finished with 10 kills, five digs, four block assists, and two solo blocks. Jackson dished out 23 assists while Kylie Foster added 20 assists. 
 
The Panthers will continue at the Christian Brothers Invitational on Saturday at 2 PM against Arkansas Monticello. 
 
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