Wildcats Come From Behind to Defeat William Penn, Split Weekend Matches

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After dropping a tough one to No. 19 Grand View on Friday night, the Wildcats bounced back with a strong five set win over William Penn on Saturday to split the weekend matches.

Baker started in Des Moine, Iowa on Friday where they took on the Vikings of Grand View. Kohanihokuao Misipeka led the Wildcats with 15 kills, while Aby Widhalm was the only other Wildcat with double figure kills with 13. Taryn Dial led the way with 23 assists while teammate Miranda Kuntz added 17 assists.

Early in the first set, the Vikings jumped out to a lead, and Baker was never able to fully recover in the set as Baker dropped the first set, 25-16. The Wildcats then came out scorching hot in the second set and held an early 13-5 lead. Late in the set, Baker led by just one, 23-22, but a service error and a kill from Widhalm put the set away as Baker tied the match at one.

Grand View fired back with a run to start the third set, but Baker was able to cut the lead to 18-16 late in the set. That is the closest the Wildcats would get as GVU won the third set, 25-19 and took a 2-1 lead in the match.

Baker and Grand View traded points back and forth for the fourth set, but Grand View would sneak away with a 25-23 win and win the match, 3-1.

Going into Saturday, the Wildcats stayed in Iowa, but this time took on William Penn. Again, Misipeka and Widhalm reached double figures with 14 and 10 kills respectively, while Reese Kehl led Baker with 22 digs. Widhalm also picked up 15 digs in the match to earn a double-double on the day.

With the score tied at seven, WPU scored 10 unanswered points and didn't look back in set one as the Wildcats dropped the first set, 25-11. Just like on Friday, the Wildcats adjusted and came out on fire in set two and held an early 7-2 lead. Baker held the lead until the Statesmen tied the game at 20, before scoring 5 of the next six points as William Penn led the match, 2-0.

Baker would not go away though as they dominated the third set leading late in the set, 23-9. Baker would finish the set on a kill from Misipeka, 25-14 and cut the match to 2-1. With the Wildcats leading, 15-12, Baker went on a huge run, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to win the set, 25-14 and force a deciding fifth set.

Baker carried their momentum into that fifth set and rallied to defeat William Penn, with the backwards sweep, 3-2.

Baker is now 11-6 on the season and 5-4 in Heart of America play. They will be back at home on Tuesday, October 7^th, when they host Peru State at 6 p.m., inside the Collins Center.

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