CHICKASHA, Okla. — Texas Wesleyan University (12-9, 9-4 SAC) defeated University of Science and Arts (13-8, 7-5 SAC) 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22) Saturday at Drover Fieldhouse. Texas Wesleyan totaled 52 kills, hit .231 and held an 8-2 advantage in service aces.
Texas Wesleyan overcame an early 5-2 deficit and closed the first set with separation, taking the set 25-18. Earlier,
Migdaly Bernal had two kills during the comeback, including one from
Kayla Myers that put Texas Wesleyan ahead 6-5, and another kill gave the visitors a 7-6 edge after Science and Arts tied it. After Science and Arts worked back to an 11-11 tie, Texas Wesleyan answered with kills from
Faith McClellan and
Malaya Young, a block involving McClellan and Young, and a Myers ace to build a 19-14 advantage.
Vanya Palmeros helped finish the set with four kills after the score reached 20-15, including the final point off a
Neeley Rutledge assist.
Texas Wesleyan led as late as 21-20 in the second set, but Science and Arts scored the final five points to take the set 25-21. Earlier, Texas Wesleyan recovered from a 2-0 start with two McClellan kills and later built a 9-5 lead on a run that included a
Florencia Churin kill, a
Vanya Palmeros kill and a Young-Palmeros block. After Science and Arts closed within 9-8, Texas Wesleyan answered with Churin's kill and three straight attack errors by Science and Arts to move back ahead 13-8, then pushed the margin to 17-11 with kills from
Loes Peijnenburg and Palmeros. Science and Arts worked back to tie the set at 18-18 and moved ahead 20-18 before Texas Wesleyan responded with a Palmeros kill and a
Madison Grekstas kill to go up 21-20, but the late run finished the set for the home side.
Texas Wesleyan erased a 6-3 deficit in the third set and moved in front with a 7-of-8 stretch that included a Young-
Madison Grekstas block, a
Migdaly Bernal kill, consecutive Bernal service aces and a Young kill from Myers for a 10-7 lead. After Science and Arts got the next point, Texas Wesleyan answered with a Grekstas block, a
Neeley Rutledge ace and kills from
Loes Peijnenburg,
Vanya Palmeros and Rutledge to push the margin to 17-11. Bernal added back-to-back kills later, and Grekstas supplied kills at 21-14 and 22-15 as Texas Wesleyan reached set point at 24-15. Science and Arts won four straight points to close to 24-19, but Grekstas finished the set with a kill from Myers to give Texas Wesleyan a 25-19 win.
Texas Wesleyan won the fourth set 25-22 by taking four of the final five points after a 21-21 tie, with
Migdaly Bernal, McClellan and Young each putting down kills in the closing stretch. Earlier, Texas Wesleyan trailed 6-3 before working back behind a
Migdaly Bernal ace, a block from Young and
Vanya Palmeros, and a Science and Arts error that moved Texas Wesleyan in front 7-6. The set stayed tight through the middle, but Texas Wesleyan got kills from
Madison Grekstas, Bernal and McClellan while also using blocks involving McClellan, Palmeros,
Loes Peijnenburg and
Madison Grekstas to keep answering Science and Arts points. After Science and Arts tied the set at 18-18, a service error and a
Lilia Ottenwalder ace pushed Texas Wesleyan back ahead 20-18, and Texas Wesleyan responded again from a 21-21 tie to close out the set.
Migdaly Bernal led Texas Wesleyan with 15 points, matching the team high with 12 kills and adding three service aces.
Vanya Palmeros also recorded 12 kills and added eight digs and three block assists.
Neeley Rutledge collected a team-best 16 digs while adding seven assists and two aces. Ottenwalder finished with a team-high 24 assists and two service aces.
The Rams stay on the road as they travel to Siloam Springs next week to take on John Brown University on Friday, October 16 at 6pm.
