Bluejays defeat Bethel, McPherson

Holli Wolf (1) attempts to block a McPherson attack Saturday. Tabor defeated the Bulldogs in five sets, 3-2, to boast a 2-0 record in conference games for the week. The Tabor volleyball team improved to 10-2 in the KCAC and 18-6 overall with conference wins last week over Bethel and McPherson.

McPherson?It took five sets for Tabor to defeat McPherson Saturday.

?As much as it didn?t feel like we should?ve had to play to five, when a team battles in the fifth like that, you just can?t help but be pleased,? coach Amy Ratzlaff said. ?Sometimes having to do that prepares you for things later, so that?s good.?

The Bluejays won the first two sets by identical 25-22 scores, but the Bulldogs did not give up. McPherson jumped to a 19-4 lead in Set 3 and went on to win, 25-12. The Bulldogs also won Set 4, 25-16.

?Mac definitely rallied, and we made some errors that we don?t usually make,? Ratzlaff said. ?The frustrating thing about the night was we had more errors than (we) normally do.

?We usually don?t have serve-receive errors, we usually don?t have hitting errors?those are two kind of hard things, mentally, to fix. But I feel like they did fix those in the fifth game, which made a difference.?

In the final set, Tabor took a 3-1 lead and never trailed on the way to a 15-9 victory.

?Games 3 and 4, we just were lined up against them a little bit wrong,? Ratzlaff said. ?In the fifth game, I feel like we got matched up better, and that made a difference in that game.?

Tabor had a new lineup, which was a factor, too.

?Whenever you put in a brand new lineup, it?s just not as smooth,? Ratzlaff said. ?That?s part of what I saw tonight, and that?s OK. That stuff will get itself fixed.?

Jessie Vogts and Katie Kaufman led with 14 kills apiece. Holli Wolf had 43 assists and Amy Jo Maphet had 27 digs. Kaufman managed one solo block.

Bethel?Tabor earned a three-set win over Bethel Wednesday night.

?It was a nice conference win for us in three,? coach Amy Ratzlaff said. ?(I) thought the girls were patient. You?re always pleased with a win and yet you?re always ready to move forward.?

The Bluejays went right to work in Set 1. From a 2-2 tie, Tabor took control and rolled to a 25-16 win.

Bethel claimed an early 3-0 lead in Set 2, but a Katie Kauf?man kill gave Tabor an 8-7 lead. A later kill by Kauf?man evened the score at 11-11 and sparked a 4-0 Bluejay run. Tabor never trailed again and won, 25-17.

Courtney Erwin started Set 3 with a kill, but attack errors by Tabor contributed to a 5-1 Bethel advantage. Tabor pulled even at 9-9, but the set remained close. Katelin Horstick tied the game at 16 with a kill and followed with another kill for an 18-17 Tabor lead. The game was tied once more, but Tabor went on to win, 25-22.

Kaufman led Tabor with a game-high 15 kills. Katelin Hort?sick added 12 and Jessie Vogts 10. Holli Wolf had 47 assists.

?Our hitters really did a nice job, I thought, attacking,? Ratzlaff said. ?Holli did a good job getting it to them.?

Wolf and Amy Jo Maphet each had 13 digs.

Tena Loewen saw playing time for the first time since suffering an injury in Tabor?s game against Kansas Wesleyan Sept. 25.

?We?re ready to have her back when she?s ready,? Ratzlaff said.

Coming?Tabor will play at Ottawa (9-3, 12-12)?tonight at 7 p.m., then will travel to Salina Friday to face a Kansas Wesleyan (12-0, 20-10)?team receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches? Top 25 poll.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Written By
More from Janae Rempel
Warriors roll to 46-21 win at Inman
The Marion football team improved to 2-0 on the season with a...
Read More