Owensboro, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan volleyball team prevailed in the first set but ultimately fell 26-24, 9-25, 19-25, 21-25 to Findlay on Friday night inside Jones Gym.
The Oilers improved to 18-8 overall and 10-4 in the G-MAC, while the Panthers moved to 0-25 overall and 0-14 in the G-MAC.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair with many lead changes throughout. The Oilers looked to have control after a kill that put the road team up 24-23, but Stella Kleffman then connected with Grace Carter for a kill and Ana De Sevilla-Acosta followed with consecutive aces to put the Panthers up 1-0.
After a second set that was all Findlay, the competitiveness returned for the final two sets. Although Wesleyan never led in the third set, the Panthers cut the Oilers lead to just one at 19-18 before Findlay tallied six of the next seven points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Kills by Carter and Hadley Wolfe as well as a service ace by Embry Burgess helped build an early 4-0 lead for the Panthers in the fourth set, but the Oilers fought back as the set came to a tie at 17-17. Findlay then used a 8-4 run to close out the set and match, returning to Ohio with the triumph.
Overall, Wolfe and Carter had 10 kills each and Havanah John followed with eight kills. Julia Kupper continued her excellent setting with 33 assists on top of 11 digs and Tessa-Jo Allen had a team-high 19 digs to go along with two blocks.
Gracie Newton controlled the net well with four blocks and Wolfe added three of her own. Sevilla-Acosta totaled 11 digs and a team-high three aces on the night.
The Panthers are set to play their final match of the season tomorrow, Saturday, November 16 vs. Tiffin. The Wesleyan volleyball senior class will be honored as part of Senior Day festivities prior to the match. First serve is set for 11 AM inside Jones Gym.
Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCPanthers on X and Instagram and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page. Also, the Panthers Mobile App is available on iTunes and Android featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more.
