WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons split a pair of matches in their Senior Day Tri-Match, falling 3-1 to the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes before rebounding to sweep Haskell Indian Nations University tonight (Oct. 26) inside the Garvey Center.
The opening match saw Kansas Wesleyan jump ahead in the first set and secure the set 25-18 with consistent offense from Kate Bebout.
In the second set, the Falcons tightened up their defense, making it a point-for-point battle. The set was highlighted by a clutch block from Samantha Johnson, stopping the Coyotes attack and giving Friends a brief lead. KWU fought back, eventually winning the set 27-25 after a critical attack error by the Falcons.
Johnson caught fire in the third set, putting in four early kills to fuel the Falcons' 10-5 start.
The trio of Gabrielle Lujan, Sydney Lentz and Sofia Mekelburg took it from there, with each hitting three kills to power the Falcons to a 25-15 third set win. Friends was solid throughout the third frame, hitting .410 as a team.
The Falcons then battled through the fourth set, but the Coyotes scored four of the final six points to turn a 20-19 lead into a 25-21 win to end the match.
Lentz led the Falcons with 23 kills, just two shy of her career-high while hitting .386. Johnson finished with 15 kills and three solo blocks vs. KWU, with Mekelburg adding 12 kills and Lujan chipping in with 11 kills. Teyha Johnson recorded a career-high 28 assists, while Maddy Strecker had 25 assists and Antonia Perier led the Falcons with 31 digs.
Kylee Harris led the Coyotes with 15 kills, with Bebout and Gianna Adriaanse each contributing 13 kills. Josie Deckinger had a match-high 51 assists and Kori Arnold led KWU with 21 digs.
Following the Senior Day ceremony that saw 17 Falcon seniors recognized, Friends dispatched of Haskell in three sets.
The first set opened with an impressive service ace by Gabrielle Murphy, setting the tone for Friends' offense. Strecker kept the pressure with smart setting decisions, allowing Lentz to notch several powerful kills, culminating in a 25-18 first set win.
In the second set, the Falcons showcased its depth with Perier collecting multiple digs, including a crucial one late in the set that set up a kill by Mekelburg. Friends' front line shined in this set with blocks from Lentz and Johnson, limiting Haskell's scoring opportunities and closing the set at 25-20.
The third set saw Friends remain in control, with Lentz and Johnson continuing their impressive blocking and scoring. Haskell's Mikeya Sheppard and Tressa Jim tried to mount a comeback with solid kills, but Friends' efficiency on both ends of the court was too strong, sealing the final set with another 25-18 win.
Lentz again powered the Falcon offense in the second match of the day with 10 kills, while Strecker had 17 more assists and Perier had 15 digs.
Mikeya Sheppard and Tressa Jim each had eight kills for Haskell and Jocelyn Cahwee recorded 14 assists. Alaina Dugi led everyone with 20 digs for the Fightin' Indians.
The Falcons will next remain at home and host Avila University Wednesday night (Oct. 30) at 7 pm.
