McPHERSON, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs ran their winning streak to 16 matches with a 3-0 sweep over seventh-seeded Kansas Wesleyan University in the quarterfinal round of the KCAC Postseason Tournament inside Holman Fieldhouse.
Daniela Jimenez was outstanding for the Bulldogs (27-5, 12-1 KCAC), leading the way with 15 kills, while Zoe Fernandez added 10 kills. Raegan Murphy finished with 20 assists, and Katelynn Brogan had 14 assists.
The first set was back and forth with neither team able to grab complete control. The Bulldogs opened up an 14-10 advantage, before ballooning that lead to 22-17 late, thanks to kills by Brooke McHale, Enya Fierens, and Jimenez. But four straight points by the Coyotes, capped off by a block by Rylee Serpan and Kyla Moore, pulled them within 22-21.
That’s when Jimenez took over, scoring the next three points for the Bulldogs to clinch the opening set 25-21.
In set two, the Bulldogs raced out to an 6-3 lead, but again the Coyotes had an answer, closing the gap on the heels of a pair of kills by Katherine Bebout to pull even at 8-8.
From there, it was dead even until the Bulldogs grabbed control after a quick 6-1 burst that featured kills by Jimenez, Fernandez, McHale, and Hadley Waldren. Again, the Bulldogs led 23-17 late in the set, but the Coyotes rallied for five straight points, including three kills by Serpan to make it a 23-22 Bulldog lead. Fierens and Jimenez finished off the set and gave the Bulldogs the commanding 2-0 edge.
Set three saw the Bulldogs once again grab quick lead, scoring eight of the first ten points, but the Coyotes would not go down without a fight, storming back to pull within one, 15-14.
MC tried to pull away again, taking a 21-17 edge, but the Coyotes made one last push, trimming the lead to 22-21. Kills by Waldren and Fernandez gave the Bulldogs the sweep and sent MC to the KCAC semifinals.
The Coyotes were led by Serpan, who finished with a game-high 16 kills, while Kylee Harris added 12 kills. Josie Deckinger finished with 40 assists.
With the win, the Bulldogs advance to the KCAC semifinals for the first time since 2021. MC will take on third-seeded Evangel University in Bartlesville, Okla.
