Owensboro, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan volleyball team showed major improvement in their final two matches of the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational, but ultimately dropped both contests on Saturday at the Woodward Health and Recreation Center.

In the Panthers' first match, the host squad battled undefeated Minnesota State and was defeated by the Mavericks 17-25, 11-25, 17-25.

Julia Kupper led the team in kills with six and added seven assists and an ace. Hadley Wolfe totaled four kills and two blocks, Parlin Kamryn recorded four kills of her own, Ana De Sevilla-Acosta notched 10 assists, and Embry Burgess had a team-high seven digs.

The -.088-hitting Panthers simply could not slow down the .338-hitting Mavericks, who were led by Toryn Richards' nine kills and Jadyn Lester's four aces. Minnesota State also tallied 12 blocks in the match.

The second match had Wesleyan battle the Indianapolis Greyhounds, who already defeated the Panthers earlier this season. Although Wesleyan nearly came from behind to win the third set, the hosts fell 11-25, 19-25, 25-27.

Grace Carter had nine kills and three blocks in the loss, while Kupper and Gracie Newton had six kills each. Kupper also added 14 assists, Havannah John had a team-high four blocks, and Burgess once again headed the defensive effort with eight digs.

The Greyhounds had both Maddie Berger (14) and Sophia Parlanti (11) with double-digit kills while Claire Morris had an astounding 32 assists.

Wesleyan begins G-MAC play with a road tilt at Thomas More in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, on Tuesday, September 17. First serve is set for 6 p.m.