The Baker University volleyball team couldn’t have ended its regular season on a better note. The Wildcats dominated MidAmerica Nazarene University in Tuesday’s senior night match and concluded the regular season with a school-best 31-3 record.
The ‘Cats posted scores of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-21 over the Pioneers in a match that head coach Kathy Allen said she was very pleased with.
“I felt like this team knew it was going to win,” Allen said. “I’m also glad our departing players finished on a good note.”
BU players that were recognized before the game were sophomores Kelsey Allen, Lauren Torrez and Liz Schraad, who all plan on attending Baker’s School of Nursing next fall, and senior Nikki Anderson, who will graduate in May. Allen said she was proud of Anderson’s performance on her senior night.
“I thought Nikki had a standout performance – blocking and hitting – she really, really played well,” coach Allen said.
Anderson slammed nine kills, which was second on the team behind junior Brooke Pryor’s team-high of 14. Sophomore Brooke Allen led the team with five service aces to accompany her 18 digs, and freshman Jana Boss dished out 32 assists. Anderson said she felt the team played well together and she was pleased with her performance on senior night.
“I was definitely nervous,” Anderson said. “I was really pleased with my performance, especially in the middle because I haven’t played there much lately, and it was a perfect game to go out on.”
BU finished second in the HAAC with a 9-1 record, just one game behind Lindenwood University. The record-breaking season has not come to its conclusion quite yet, as the ‘Cats begin their HAAC playoff quest Saturday. Allen said she feels her team is prepared physically, mentally and emotionally for the postseason.
“Finishing up with a win, we’re still feeling confident but not cocky,” she said. “We feel like at any point in time we can beat anyone.”
For the Wildcats to be successful in their postseason play, Pryor said the players will need to focus on one match at a time and not get ahead of themselves.
“We need to remain confident in our skills and in our team to get the job done,” Pryor said.
No. 2-seeded Baker will have a rematch with No. 7 MidAmerica at 7 p.m. Saturday in Collins Center. <br/>&#160;