HAMMOND, IN - The Kentucky Wesleyan Volleyball Team opened up their 2023 Midwest Region Crossover with a matchup with the GLVC's Truman State. Despite a close match, the Bulldogs prevailed, taking down the Panthers 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-12, 28-26).
Truman State improves to 10-8 (2-3 GLVC), while Wesleyan drops to 3-16 (2-8 G-MAC).
Things didn't look great early for the Panthers, as Truman State quickly went up 6-0 in the first set. Wesleyan fought to get back, using kills from
Hallie McGuire and
Claire Lange to tie things up at 10. Tied at 16-16, TSU went on a 7-1 run to go up 23-18. Wesleyan didn't quit, going on a 6-1 run of their own to tie things up at 24-24. Despite a late kill from
Nicole Hughes, the Bulldogs closed strong to get the 27-25 set win.
The second set was one of late runs. Down 16-13, the Panthers went on a 5-0 run, fueled by two aces from
Embry Burgess, put them up 18-16. Right after that, however, Truman State re-took the lead with a 5-0 run of their own.
Ava Rebarchik then notched two kills to send the Panthers on a 4-0 run, and they didn't look back, eventually taking the set 25-23.
The Bulldogs went up 10-1 in the third set and didn't look back, taking the set 25-12.
The fourth set was a roller coaster of emotions. Things looked grim for the Panthers late, as Truman State went up 24-17, ready to take both the set and the game. Wesleyan was having none of it, as three kills from
Claire Lange led to an incredible 8-0 run for the Panthers, giving them a 25-24 lead. Truman State gathered themselves and grabbed four of the next five points to take the set 28-26.
Nicole Hughes led the Panthers with 15 kills, followed by
Hallie McGuire (12) and
Claire Lange (10).
Julia Kupper notched a huge double-double of 42 assists and 18 digs, while
Embry Burgess led the team with 19 digs.
The Panthers will close out the Crossover with two games tomorrow, as they will take on Drury at 9 a.m. CT and Southwest Baptist at 4:30 p.m. CT. Both games will take place on Court 5.
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