TC volleyball tops KCAC with 14-2 record

Written by Andrew Ottoson Tuesday, 31 October 2006 18:00

This week the Tabor College volleyball team played a pair of extended matches, and improved its record to a conference-leading 14-2.

A four-game loss at Kansas Wesleyan got the Bluejay's week off on the wrong foot, but the team bounced back with a five-game home victory over Friends.

"(Kansas Wesleyan) played really well and hit really well and played a pretty solid game," coach Amy Ratzlaff said.

The win against Friends was of particular importance because of an impending matchup against a 12-4 Bethel team that currently sits in second place in the conference.

In Salina, the Bluejays were outscored 28-30, 20-30 before winning the third game 30-25.

"They only had six kills against us in the third game and we didn't have a lot of errors," Ratzlaff said. "That felt more like how we play, and it felt like we let them hit at us more in the other games."

A narrow 27-30 loss in the fourth game prevented a Tabor comeback.

"We sat back and tried to respond rather than taking charge of the match ourselves," Ratzlaff said. "We had to scramble, and at times we'd get back into control and then we'd let it go again."

In the match against Friends, Tabor jumped to an early lead and took the first game 30-19.

The second game saw Friends jump to the early lead, and the Falcons held on to even the match.

The third game-a 30-17 win for Tabor-tilted quickly toward the Bluejays. But the fourth went to FU by a score of 30-32 as the Falcons forced a fifth game.

In that deciding game, Tabor showed resolve in coming away with a 15-9 win to take the match.

"It was fun to see the women play with passion in the fifth game," Ratzlaff said. "Hopefully, it's that feeling that motivates us going into this week."

Lindsey Vogts averaged 4.0 kills for the week to go with 1.1 blocks. Kelsi Suderman averaged 1.7 blocks and 2.9 kills. Ashley Malcom averaged 5.0 digs and 2.7 kills. Staci Frick averaged 3.0 kills, 3.3 digs and 1.4 blocks.

In the final matches before postseason play begins, Tabor will meet Bethany in Lindsborg at 7 p.m. on Halloween before meeting Bethel at 6 p.m. on Thursday.