Wildcats Cruise to 3-1 Victory over Falcons, Sweep Weekend Split

BALDWIN CITY - Baker volleyball defeated Friends, 3-1 on Saturday night in the Collins Center to complete a weekend sweep for the Wildcats, who also won on Friday night in a conference road match at Benedictine.

After winning in four sets last night in Atchison, Kan. (27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20), BU turned around and came out on top of another four-setter tonight, taking care of the Falcons on set scores of 25-17, 23-25, 25-9, 25-19.

As a team, the Wildcats hit .248 and held Friends to a .077 hitting percentage with Baker tallying 18 blocks in the match. Kohanihokuao Misipeka led the attack with 18 kills, while Meredith Brown and Brie Reedy each finished with double-digit attacks with 11 apiece.

Taryn Dial filled up the stat sheet with 24 assists, 13 digs, five kills, and two aces. Reese Kehl recorded 25 digs and chipped in 10 assists.

In the first set, Baker capitalized on a Falcons side that hit less than .100 for the frame (.097) and used a string of kills from Brown, Misipeka and Kylie Murray to take a five-point lead early on. Abby Elffner added three successful attacks midway through and a straight attack from Dial made it a double-digit lead for BU. Fellow setter Miranda Kuntz finished off the set with a dump to give Baker a 1-0 lead.

Friends came back with a strong response in the second, leading for most parts of it before a kill from Murray tied the set at 17-all. The Wildcats would get within one later and then kept things interesting with the Falcons at set point, but the visitors were able to hang on and tie the match with a two-point win.

Baker stormed out with a blistering third set to take control of the match, opening up the frame by claiming seven of the first eight points and then going on another incredible run later to lead 20-4. BU relied on its defense at the net with Reedy and Stout earning back-to-back blocks and Reedy teaming up with Murray for another block at 13-4. A Misipeka kill finished off the set for BU as they jumped in front on a commanding 16-point victory in the third.

In the fourth, the Wildcats once again built up an early lead with Misipeka starting off the rally with consecutive kills and then Brown following up with a terrific stretch, rattling off three straight points as Baker took an initial 8-1 lead.

With BU leading by eight, the Falcons got back within four to force the home sideline to regroup and settle in. Misipeka connected on an attack and then followed it up with an ace to get the Wildcats up and going again. Dial earned back-to-back attacks with a dig that snuck back over to Falcons side of the net and then another dump to set up match point before Reedy sealed the match with her 11th kill of the night.

It was the second straight 11-kill night for Reedy, who was one of four Wildcats to record double-digit kills at Benedictine on Friday. Misipeka led the charge yesterday too, finishing with 13 kills, while Brown had 12 and Stout had 11 for a BU team that totaled 59 kills on the night.

Dial and Kuntz each collected 23 assists against the Ravens with Dial adding 16 digs to her day.

With three straight wins, Baker continues its homestand with back-to-back matches in the Collins Center next weekend. The Wildcats will first take on Clarke on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. before turning around and hosting Mount Mercy for a Noon tipoff on Saturday, Sept. 27.

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