With the conference schedule just around the corner, the Baker volleyball team is looking to find its traction.

In the Bellevue Tournament last weekend, the Wildcats lost to William Woods (19-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22) and Jamestown (25-20, 25-14, 25-15) but finished the weekend strong with a win over St. Francis (19-25, 25-16, 24-26, 25-16, 15-12) in the last match of the tournament.

Despite the slow start, expectations are high for conference play.

“We have the talent to succeed,” sophomore Ashley Sparks said. “We just need to put everything together at this point and find some consistency.”

On Tuesday night, the Wildcats lost a road match to the No. 1 Columbia Cougars (25-17,25-17,23-25,25-23).

Sparks led the offensive effort for Baker with 10 kills, but it was no match for the Cougars’ offensive attack. Columbia’s Peiyi Liu had 20 kills and Caroline Clifford and Maria Franco each added eleven.

The Wildcats are now 2-7 overall and expect to get things turned around with five straight home matches ending with the Heart conference-opener against Peru State on Sept. 13 in the Collins Center.

Team members are hoping for fan support at home matches as they start conference play.

“The support from the students means the world to us,” Sparks said. “It gives our team more energy.”