HAMMOND, Ind. – Kentucky Wesleyan volleyball (5-16, 1-8 G-MAC) split its doubleheader Saturday at the Midwest Region Crossover, falling to Upper Iowa (10-10, 3-5 GLVC) in three sets before rallying to defeat Lake Superior State (5-17, 1-9 GLIAC) in a five-set thriller.
Against Upper Iowa,
Hadley Wolfe led Kentucky Wesleyan with six kills, while
Arielis Hernandez added seven.
Ana De Sevilla-Acosta recorded 11 assists and three service aces, and
Sophie Spanier finished with 11 digs. The Panthers bounced back against Lake Superior State behind
Emmy Goering's 14 kills, Hernandez's 10 kills, and Wolfe's nine kills while hitting .438. De Sevilla-Acosta tallied 23 assists, 15 digs, and four service aces, while
Grace Lewis added five aces. Kentucky Wesleyan finished the second match with 48 kills and 65 digs.
Kentucky Wesleyan 0-3 Upper Iowa (13-25, 17-25, 19-25)
SET ONE: Kentucky Wesleyan 13-25 Upper Iowa
Kentucky Wesleyan opened the match with a kill from Wolfe, assisted by De Sevilla-Acosta, but Upper Iowa built momentum with a balanced attack. The Panthers found contributions from Hernandez and Wolfe, while
Ella Thomas added a pair of service aces to help Kentucky Wesleyan stay in the set. Upper Iowa responded with a series of kills and service pressure to create separation, eventually moving ahead 22-11. Kentucky Wesleyan added late points through kills from
Emmy Goering and Wolfe, but Upper Iowa closed the set with back-to-back service aces to take the opener, 25-13.
SET TWO: Kentucky Wesleyan 17-25 Upper Iowa
Kentucky Wesleyan showed early promise in the second set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead behind three service aces from De Sevilla-Acosta and a block involving Parlin and Wolfe. Hernandez also added a kill to help the Panthers extend their early advantage. Upper Iowa gradually worked back into the set, however, using its attack and service game to erase the deficit and pull even at 7-7. The teams traded points through the middle portion, with Hernandez and
Abigail Butterworth recording kills for Kentucky Wesleyan. Upper Iowa then gained control late, scoring eight of the final nine points to secure a 25-17 win and take a two-set lead.
SET THREE: Kentucky Wesleyan 19-25 Upper Iowa
Upper Iowa established an early advantage in the third set, using a strong service run to move ahead 13-3. Kentucky Wesleyan worked to cut into the margin, with Butterworth and Hernandez contributing kills and the Panthers getting a block from
Grace Lewis and
Mackenzie Bristol. Wolfe and Hernandez added more points as Kentucky Wesleyan continued to battle, and the Panthers put together a late push that included kills from Wolfe and a series of Upper Iowa attack errors. After trailing 24-13, Kentucky Wesleyan scored six straight points to make the finish more competitive, but Upper Iowa closed out the match with a 25-19 decision.
Lake Superior State 2-3 Kentucky Wesleyan (25-21, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25, 13-15)
SET ONE: Lake Superior State 25-21 Kentucky Wesleyan
The Panthers and Lakers traded points early, with Goering recording consecutive kills and Parlin and Hernandez also contributing offensively. Kentucky Wesleyan stayed within reach through the middle of the set, with Wolfe adding a kill and the Panthers benefiting from a service ace from
Layla McAuliffe. Lake Superior State created some separation with a run of points and continued to find success at the net. Kentucky Wesleyan kept pushing, but the Lakers maintained their advantage through the closing stretch to take the first set, 25-21.
SET TWO: Lake Superior State 18-25 Kentucky Wesleyan
Kentucky Wesleyan answered in the second set with a strong serving performance and more consistent offensive production. After the teams exchanged early points, Lewis sparked a key stretch from the service line, recording three consecutive aces to help the Panthers build an advantage. Goering and Hernandez added kills, while Parlin and
Sophie Spanier contributed on both sides of the ball. The Panthers continued to apply pressure as the set progressed, taking advantage of Lake Superior State errors and finding timely points at the net. Kentucky Wesleyan pulled away late to win 25-18 and even the match at one set apiece.
SET THREE: Lake Superior State 25-23 Kentucky Wesleyan
The third set featured several momentum swings, with the teams trading points throughout the opening stretch. Goering, Hernandez, and Parlin each recorded kills as Kentucky Wesleyan worked to keep pace, while Wolfe added a point at the net. Neither side was able to establish a commanding lead, and the teams remained close entering the final points. Kentucky Wesleyan continued to fight back, including a late kill from Parlin and a service ace from De Sevilla-Acosta that helped bring the Panthers within reach. Lake Superior State ultimately edged out the 25-23 decision to move one set away from the match victory.
SET FOUR: Lake Superior State 23-25 Kentucky Wesleyan
With the match on the line, Kentucky Wesleyan responded with a determined fourth-set effort. The Panthers and Lakers traded points early, with Hernandez and Butterworth recording kills as the teams stayed close. Goering helped fuel the Kentucky Wesleyan attack, while Parlin and Wolfe added important points as the set continued. The Lakers threatened to close out the match, but the Panthers stayed within striking distance and made their push in the closing stretch. Wolfe delivered a key kill to bring Kentucky Wesleyan within one, and Hernandez followed with another kill to finish the 25-23 set win. The victory evened the match at two sets apiece and forced a decisive fifth set.
SET FIVE: Lake Superior State 13-15 Kentucky Wesleyan
The deciding set remained tight from the opening points, with neither team able to create much separation. Goering and Wolfe provided key kills for Kentucky Wesleyan, while Hernandez also found the floor to keep the Panthers in contention. The teams continued to trade points through the middle of the set, with the Lakers maintaining a narrow edge as the finish approached. Kentucky Wesleyan stayed composed in the closing moments, getting a late kill from Goering to help seal the 15-13 win. The Panthers completed the comeback and earned their second victory of the season's crossover event.
UP NEXT
Kentucky Wesleyan returns to Great Midwest Athletic Conference play with a trip to Ohio Dominican on Friday, October 23rd. First serve is set for 5 p.m. CT.
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