Another close match resulting in a loss to Evangel University Tuesday leaves the Wildcat volleyball team on a four-game losing streak, but still with a 23-12 overall record and 6-3 in the conference. Season at a glance.<a href="/volleyball">Season at a glance.</a> Season at a glance.
After losing the first two games 25-30 and 27-30, Baker battled back in the third game with a strong 30-28 showing. In game four, the Crusaders stayed with the Wildcats’ steady lead to come from behind and take the match 27-30. (Story continued below.)
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“I thought (Glessner) just did an excellent job,” head coach Kathy Allen said. “She’s not used to setting to the varsity, and it’s a whole different pace and speed that we run, so I thought she did a really good job.”
While Glessner focused on filling Segrist’s duties for the night, she completed the match with 41 assists, 16 digs and no service errors. Glessner said she felt her team was behind her the entire night.
“I went in confident knowing that I needed to step up and help the team out in the situation that we were given,” she said. “I wasn’t nervous at all. I was ready to come out and play and help the team out.”
Other contributors for the ‘Cats were junior Alexis Pryor, who led the team with 18 kills, junior Jayde Allen, who posted a team-high 25 digs and sophomore Michaela Marak, who added four blocks and six kills on the night. Marak said she was pleased with the team’s performance, as well as her personal play.
“I felt like I had probably one of the best hitting games in awhile,” she said. “Me and Taylor really connected, and she did an awesome job of getting me the ball.”
Despite the conference loss, the ‘Cats still have a shot to finish second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Coach Allen said with the number of balanced teams in the conference, Baker is in a four-way tie for second place heading into its final matchup Tuesday against William Jewell College, also in the tie. She said the match would be key in determining postseason play.
“Tuesday’s matchup is very important in determining home court advantage,” she said. “The top four teams in conference get home court advantage during the HAAC playoffs.”
Baker competed in a non-conference contest against Park University Friday, dropping the match 2-3. Freshman Brooke Pryor led the way with 15 kills, followed closely by senior Kelly Wilbur who had 14.
The ‘Cats will look to clinch a second place finish in the HAAC standings at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Collins Gym in the team’s last conference match against William Jewell