Misipeka, Widhalm Double-Doubles Fuel Wildcats’ 3-1 Win at Avila

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After falling in a tough five-set match on Tuesday, Baker volleyball got back in the win column on Friday evening, picking up a 3-1 victory on the road over Avila in a non-conference matchup.

With the victory, the Wildcats snapped a two-game skid and won on set scores of 25-12, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17 to improve to 2-1 in road contests this season.

Baker hit .270 as a team while holding the Eagles to a .117 clip. The match was a battle from the service line, with Avila totaling nine aces but also committing 11 errors, while the Wildcats countered with seven aces and 10 miscues.

Kohanihokuao Misipeka continued her strong start to the season, posting her second consecutive double-double with 18 kills and 12 digs while hitting a blistering .517. She was joined by fellow double-double performer Aby Widhalm, who tallied 13 kills and 18 digs, and also added four blocks.

Reese Kehl anchored the back row with 28 digs and two aces, while setter Taryn Dial dished out 20 assists and chipped in two timely dumps during the fourth set. Brie Reedy matched Widhalm with four blocks of her own.

The Wildcats wasted no time in the opener, racing out to a 10-4 lead and using an 8-1 burst to cruise to a 25-12 win in set one. Avila answered in the second set, taking advantage of a slow BU start to lead 20-12 before holding off a late Baker push to even the match at 1-1.

Baker bookended set three with four unanswered points on each end of it as the Wildcats jumped ahead 4-0 before Avila clawed back to tie it at 12-12. BU steadied and closed strong, reeling off the final four points, capped by a kill from Kylie Murray to regain the lead.

The momentum carried into the fourth, where Dial's crafty play at the net and a 5-0 Wildcat run pushed BU out to a 17-10 cushion en route to a 25-17 clincher.

The Wildcats improve to 5-3 on the season and will turn around and host a home conference match against (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Collins Center.

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