OWENSBORO, KY. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College volleyball team flipped the script from last week in Memphis. The Panthers won in five sets over Oakland City University to open its own Invitational on Friday. Then in front of a spirited crowd Wesleyan extracted revenge against Maryville University, winning in straight sets.
Game 1: Kentucky Wesleyan 3 – Oakland City 2
After suffering a pair of 25-23 losses to open the match, the Panthers rallied to outscore the Mighty Oaks 65-32 in the final three sets. Wesleyan opened the third set with six straight points including back-to-back kills from Sierra Morrow and Julia Moran. The Panthers utilized an 8-0 run to extend its lead to 22-14 before taking the third set 25-17.
The fourth set started with a 5-1 run from Wesleyan capped off with a service ace from Lydia Jackson. Six straight points allowed the Panthers to build up a 12-point lead with a trio of kills from Alexa Davis. The Mighty Oaks closed the gap to 19-9 but Danielle Brouillette and Jaylen McEwen closed out the set with back-to-back kills to force a decisive fifth set.
Davis started the final frame strong with a kill to spark a 3-0 run from the Panthers before they built an 8-3 lead. Two straight kills from McEwen and a third from Brouillette put the Panthers ahead 13-4. Wesleyan scored their final two points on attacking errors from Oakland City.
Game 2: Maryville 0, Kentucky Wesleyan 3
After falling in five sets to the Saints (3-3) last weekend the Panthers were in complete control on Friday. Wesleyan used a 6-0 run in the middle of the opening set to cruise to a 25-11 win. The lead grew to 2-0 after 25-18 victory in the second set.
The Panthers held a .423 attacking percentage in the third set in closing out the season. Sierra Morrow game alive in the final points, playing a part in five of the last nine. Morrow collected three block assists and two kills in that stretch and finished the match with nine kills, three block assists, and one block.
Harris recorded 11 kills in 21 attempts while Jackson dished out 34 assists. McEwen added nine kills and 12 digs.
The Panthers will play two more games tomorrow as the Kentucky Wesleyan College Invitational continues. Wesleyan will play at 1PM and 7 PM while action begins at 9 AM.
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