OLATHE, KS: The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (6-12) split in the second day of the Hy-Vee Rachel Magana Memorial Classic, taking a 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 28-30, 25-14) loss to MidAmerica Nazarene University (10-8) before dropping College of the Ozarks (6-12) 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17) at the Bell Family Arena on Saturday.
 
The Lady Rams pounced out to a 6-1 lead capped by a Meghan Finley kill from Kristina Gafford against the host team MidAmerica Nazarene University. Texas Wesleyan controlled the set until a 5-1 run by the Pioneers tied the game, 14-14. The Lady Rams got kills from Finley and Abigail Zipoy to lead 17-14. MNU then took an 8-1 run to gain a 22-18 lead. The Pioneers were able to hold off the Lady Rams for a 25-20 first set.
 
Texas Wesleyan again held the hot start in the second set with an 8-3 lead capped by an Alex Hendee kill. Another 6-0 run later in the set capped by a Starnisha Bodie kill to take a 16-7 lead. The Pioneers made an improbable comeback from there, outscoring the Rams 18-9, taking a 25-23 win.    
 
Pioneers and Rams were tied at 6-6 in the third set until a 7-0 Wesleyan run capped by a Kiersten Mebane kill made it a 13-6 game. The Lady Rams held a sizable lead with a 17-10 lead on a Shelby Stinnett kill, but MNU again started a 7-1 run to cut the lead to one at 18-17. A Hendee kill made it set point at 24-22, but the Pioneers hit a 3-0 burst to lead 25-24. The Rams tied the set playing from behind four times until a Hendee kill and a MNU error lifted Texas Wesleyan to a 30-28 win.
 
The Pioneers posted a 4-0 lead to start the fourth set, and while the Rams kept the score close MidAmerica Nazarene controlled the set throughout on the way to a 25-14, 3-1 match win.
 
Stinnett led the Rams with 17 kills. Finley notched 13 kills. Lauren Hamaker and Gafford each posted 21 assists. Zipoy tallied 21 digs in the match.
 
The Lady Rams controlled the first set against the Bobcats, romping out to a 10-3 lead capped by a Zipoy ace. The Bobcats cut the lead to 18-16, but Wesleyan held the lead and three consecutive points from Stinnett ended the set 25-19.
 
The teams played closely to start the second set, before College of the Ozarks took a slight 13-10 lead, prompting a Wesleyan timeout. Attacking errors plagued the Rams, allowing the Bobcats to grip an 18-13 lead. An 8-4 run in favor of Texas Wesleyan capped by a Stinnett kill and cutting the lead to 22-21. Ozarks was able to hang on to the set though, equalizing the match with a 25-23 second set win.
 
The Lady Rams found themselves with a 17-9 lead after a 6-1 run capped by a Stinnett kill. This time Texas Wesleyan did not let the opponent cut into the lead, maintaining a sizable lead throughout. A pair of Hendee kills ended the set 25-16.
 
The Lady Rams controlled a slight lead in the fourth set, eventually forcing their will on the Bobcats with a 14-7 lead on another Stinnett kill. Wesleyan earned match point on kill number 17 for Stinnett before a sneaky Hamaker kill gave the Rams a 25-17 set win to seal the match.
 
Stinnett led all players with her 17 kills, adding 10 digs and five aces. Buell, Hendee and Zipoy all notched double digits in the kills category. Hamaker notched a career high 49 assists in the win.
 
The Lady Rams will get back to conference play with a match against #15 Oklahoma Baptist University on Tuesday, September 30 starting at 6:00 pm in Shawnee, OK.