Ottawa, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons fell in four sets to the Ottawa University Braves in KCAC action tonight (Oct 28) in Ottawa, Kan.
Down two sets, the Falcons turned the third set around after falling behind 8-7, moving ahead 12-9 behind a
Alia Lanzen kill. Later, the Falcons built a 20-15 lead with
Iris Lozano serving, including her service ace and a
Sofia Mekelburg kill. After Ottawa cut the margin to 24-22,
Natalie Castillo finished the set with a kill from Mekelburg for a 25-22 win to stay in the match.
It was the Braves though taking control of the fourth set, building a 14-4 lead midway through and then closing it out 25-12.
In the opening set, the Falcons erased a 19-16 deficit and moved in front 21-19, with
Gabbie Taylor serving four straight points that included kills by Mekelburg, Lanzen and Castillo. Ottawa answered with five straight points to reach set point, and after Castillo's kill kept the Falcons alive, the Braves closed the set 25-22.
The Falcons opened the second set with five straight points, getting consecutive kills from Taylor, a block by Castillo and
Sadie White, and then a Castillo kill during
Alyson Sparman's service turn. The Braves erased that start, pulled even at 12-12 and moved ahead 13-12, though the Falcons later got an
Erin Cheatum kill and a Mekelburg-Cheatum block to get within 18-17. The Braves then finished the set at 25-19 to go up two sets.
Taylor led the Falcons with eight kills and added nine digs. Mekelburg finished with 17 assists, six kills, eight digs and two block assists. Lozano recorded a team-high 12 digs and served two aces. White added seven kills while contributing a pair of block assists.
Bailee Nickel finished with 25 kills and 12 digs to pace the Braves. Campbell Stark added 13 kills with five total blocks. Madison Brauner and Makela Martinez each recorded 28 assists for Ottawa.
The Falcons will next play at No. 14-ranked McPherson College Saturday evening (Oct. 31) at 6 pm in McPherson, Kan.
