WICHITA, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcons broke into the KCAC win column with a 3-1 victory over the Tabor College Bluejays this evening inside the Garvey Center.
With the Falcons leading the match 2-1 and the fourth set in a 21-21 gridlock,
Erin Cheatum put Friends on top to stay with a kill before
Gabbie Taylor pounded in three of match-high 15 kills, including the match-ending point from
Sofia Mekelburg to put the Falcons over the top 25-21 and seal the big win.
Friends started strong, opening the first set with five straight points on Mekelburg's serve. After Tabor came within 19-13, the Falcons added four consecutive points on
Iris Lozano's serve, including kills from
Natalie Castillo and
Sadie White and closed out the set 25-16.
The Falcons were again strong in the second set, scoring four straight points on
Alyson Sparman's serve, turning a 12-8 lead to 16-8 behind kills from White, Taylor and Cheatum. White then put in another kill to close out another dominating set for the Falcons 25-14.
The third set saw the Bluejays jump out quick, but the Falcons cut into a 13-5 deficit and got within 22-20, with Taylor supplying four kills during the comeback push. The Bluejays answered though by taking three of the final four points to close out the set 25-21 and force a fourth set.
In addition to her 15 kills, Taylor added 15 digs, two aces and two blocks. Castillo finished with a season-high 12 kills, seven digs and three blocks. Mekelburg recorded 26 assists and 11 digs, with Lozano collecting a team-high 19 digs and adding four assists.
Camila Mendes Toledo led Tabor with 12 kills and 16 digs. Annerieke Nederveen recorded 32 assists and Kingzley Ratzlaff had 11 kills. Esther Nederveen produced 10 kills and 10 digs for the Bluejays.
The Falcons will now hit the road for the next two matches, starting Wednesday night (Oct. 28) for a 7 pm matchup at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan.
