After the long trek Tuesday to Springfield, Mo., the Baker volleyball teamed matched up against Evangel University but came up empty-handed, losing in five games.

Senior Alexis Pryor said the team came out sluggish in the first game, which made it fall behind.

“In the first game we didn’t come out prepared, and it was pretty ugly to say the least,” she said.  “They are a team that’s either really on or really off, and they were really on.”

The Wildcats were unable to come back, dropping the game 12-25. After collecting themselves and a little pep talk from the seniors, freshman Brooke Allen said the team pulled it back together and started clicking to win the second game 25-22. The team lost game three, 21-25, but the victory of the fourth game, 25-17, carried the teams into the 15-point final.

The Crusaders were too much for the Wildcats and finished the match 15-11.<br/>Allen said the team started to play well after the loss of the first game, but the mistakes in the beginning hindered the outcome of the match.Allen said the team started to play well after the loss of the first game, but the mistakes in the beginning hindered the outcome of the match.
Allen said the team started to play well after the loss of the first game, but the mistakes in the beginning hindered the outcome of the match.

“Everything in general started picking up, but our skills in the first game were nonexistent,” she said.

The Wildcats downed Graceland University Oct. 23 in front of a home crowd in Collins Center.

The Wildcats started the match by beating the Yellowjackets 27-25. While both sophomore Brooke Pryor and Alexis Pryor combined for 29 kills, senior Jayde Allen lived up to her title of Libero of the Week with 25 digs for the five-game match.

Alexis Pryor said the team played with intensity and consistency throughout the entire match.

“We did a good job of playing consistently and players were able to step up when we needed to,” she said. “We had players make plays at crucial times.”

Going into the fifth game after a 21-25 loss in the fourth, the Wildcats finished the match by terminating the Yellowjackets 15-11.

The Wildcats continued play this week with a matchup against Benedictine College Thursday in Atchison. Results were unavailable at presstime. 

Alexis Pryor said the team had a few goals for the Benedictine game and intended to reach them.

“I would say our goal (was) to just play consistently the whole time and to make smart plays at right times,” she said.

The junior varsity squad will compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament Friday and Saturday at MidAmerica Nazarene University.