WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Texas Wesleyan University (7-8, 4-3 SAC) lost to Nelson (Texas) (11-4, 7-0 SAC) 3-1 on Tuesday, falling 25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 27-25. The Rams totaled 52 kills, 77 digs and 12 blocks, but hit .110 compared with Nelson (Texas)'s .175.
The Rams worked back from a 10-5 deficit in the first set and pulled within 14-12, with a
Lilia Ottenwalder kill from
Faith McClellan followed by back-to-back
Loes Peijnenburg service aces closing that push. Earlier, the Rams scored the opening point and tied the set at 2-2 when
Migdaly Bernal and
Loes Peijnenburg combined on a block, but Nelson (Texas) used Rams errors, kills and an ace to move ahead 10-5. McClellan,
Tamara Blakley and
Loes Peijnenburg each recorded kills as the Rams stayed within range through the middle of the set. Nelson (Texas) answered the 14-12 score with six straight points, and although the Rams added late points on a McClellan kill, a Nelson (Texas) attack error and a
Migdaly Bernal kill from
Lillian Breaux, Nelson (Texas) took the set 25-15.
The Rams closed the second set by taking four of the final five points after a 21-21 tie, finishing a 25-22 win. Earlier, the Rams built a 10-7 edge with help from blocks involving
Migdaly Bernal,
Loes Peijnenburg, McClellan and
Malaya Young, plus kills from Peijnenburg,
Florencia Churin, McClellan and
Migdaly Bernal. Nelson (Texas) answered through the middle of the set and moved in front 20-17 before the Rams responded with consecutive kills from McClellan and Peijnenburg to get back within one. After tying the set at 21-21, the Rams went ahead on a block by Young and Churin, added another block from
Vanya Palmeros and Peijnenburg, reached set point on McClellan's kill and closed the set on a Nelson (Texas) attack error.
The Rams built a 19-16 lead in the third set, but Nelson (Texas) answered late and came back to take the set 25-22. Earlier, the Rams responded after trailing 8-6, using a Young kill, a
Migdaly Bernal kill, a Blakley-
Loes Peijnenburg block and a Blakley kill to move ahead 11-9. After Nelson (Texas) went back in front, the Rams continued to trade points, with McClellan recording two kills and joining Young on a block during the push to 19-16. Nelson (Texas) tied the set at 19-19, and although McClellan put the Rams back ahead at 20-19 and Blakley added consecutive late kills to make it 23-22, Nelson (Texas) scored the final two points to finish the set.
The Rams built an 8-1 lead in the fourth set with Ottenwalder at the service line, getting two aces, kills from
Migdaly Bernal and Churin, and a Bernal-
Loes Peijnenburg block during the opening surge. Nelson (Texas) worked back into the set and tied it at 18-18 before McClellan put the Rams back in front with a kill. The Rams continued to answer late, with Churin, Young,
Kayla Myers, Bernal and Peijnenburg each recording kills from 19-19 on to keep the Rams even or ahead through 25-24. Nelson (Texas) scored the final three points, closing the set 27-25.
McClellan led the Rams with 12 kills and added three blocks.
Loes Peijnenburg recorded eight blocks, seven kills and two service aces.
Jordan Daniell collected a team-high 18 digs. Ottenwalder finished with 20 assists, 10 digs, two aces and a kill on her lone attack.
The Rams head to McPherson, KS as they take on conference foe Central Christain College (KS) on Friday, September 25 at 6:00pm.
