MCPHERSON, Kan. — Texas Wesleyan University (8-8, 5-3 SAC) defeated Central Christian College (Kan.) (0-13, 0-8 SAC) 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-10) on Friday. The Rams hit .298 with 34 kills and 10 service aces while holding Central Christian to a .078 hitting percentage.
The Rams won the first set 25-18, answering Central Christian's late push with a closing stretch that included a
Faith McClellan kill, two blocks involving
Haley Fojtik and
Tamara Blakley, and Blakley's set-ending kill from
Lillian Breaux. Earlier, the Rams opened with three straight points behind a
Lilia Ottenwalder service ace, a
Florencia Churin kill from Ottenwalder and a Central Christian setting error. The Rams built on that start with production from McClellan,
Loes Peijnenburg and Fojtik, moving ahead 10-4 and later 15-7 as Breaux assisted kills by Fojtik and Blakley. Central Christian cut the margin to 20-18 before McClellan's kill returned the serve to the Rams, and
Chase Silva served the final four points to finish the set.
The Rams created separation in the second set with seven straight points, turning a 12-11 deficit into an 18-12 lead behind service aces from
Migdaly Bernal and
Madison Grekstas, kills from
Vanya Palmeros and
Migdaly Bernal, and Central Christian errors. Earlier, the Rams opened with the first three points, but Central Christian worked back to tie the set at 5-5 and later moved in front before
Loes Peijnenburg, Fojtik and
Madison Grekstas helped the Rams stay close through the middle stages. After the long run, the Rams kept control with a
Madison Grekstas and
Migdaly Bernal block, another
Migdaly Bernal kill from
Lillian Breaux, and a Neely Rutledge service ace to reach set point at 24-15.
Migdaly Bernal finished the set with a kill from Neely Rutledge, giving the Rams a 25-16 win.
The Rams took control of the third set immediately, scoring the first six points on Ottenwalder's serve to build a 6-0 lead with kills by Fojtik,
Migdaly Bernal and Ottenwalder, plus an Ottenwalder ace. After a service error gave Central Christian its first point, the Rams kept the pressure on as a Central Christian service error, a
Jordan Daniell ace, a Blakley kill and a Blakley-Fojtik block moved the set to 10-1. Blakley added two more kills before
Loes Peijnenburg delivered back-to-back aces, stretching the lead to 14-2.
Kayla Myers later assisted a
Vanya Palmeros kill,
Madison Grekstas recorded a block and a kill as the Rams went ahead 18-4, and Central Christian answered with two straight points from Hannah Stewart kills to make it 18-6. Late kills by Blakley and Palmeros helped the Rams close the set, which finished 25-10 on a Central Christian attack error.
Blakley led the Rams with seven kills and added three block assists. Ottenwalder finished with 16 assists, six digs and two service aces while converting her lone attack. Neely Rutledge recorded 14 digs and added four assists. Fojtik posted six kills on a .417 hitting percentage and collected four total blocks.
The Rams return to action tomorrow as they travel to Langston, OK to take on Langston University on Saturday, Septmber 26 at 1pm.
