Avila Falls to McPherson in Four Frames

McPHERSON, Kan. – Avila's offense came to life in the third set to extend the match into a fourth frame against the reigning KCAC runners-up, but McPherson (11-9, 4-1 KCAC) responded in that fourth set to wrap things up at home on Tuesday night despite a solid altogether effort from the Eagles (9-16, 1-5 KCAC).

Tuesday's first set was well contest, with McPherson scoring four straight points to grab an early 7-4 edge before Avila countered with five straight on the serve of Addison Davis to go up 9-7. A 5-1 Eagle run to put them up 16-14 was immediately canceled by a 5-1 Bulldog run to put them up 19-17. Three Eagle errors helped McPherson out to a 23-18 lead, but the Eagles answered with three straight clutch points to force a Bulldog timeout. Avila saved one set point but McPherson ultimately closed it out with a Kaitlyn Moore kill to win 25-23.

McPherson countered a 4-1 Avila started with a 7-1 surge to go up 8-5, but the Eagles swiftly tied it up at eight apiece after kills from Kelsey Johnson and Phoebe Riddle. McPherson pushed ahead at 16-11 and though the Eagles stayed within striking distance for a few points, the Bulldogs won the final four points to pull away and win the set 25-17.

The third set was the Eagles' best by far, and it came at a clutch time to extend the match into another frame. A couple of service aces from top setter Cynarah Rodriquez helped the Bulldogs open up a 13-9 lead, but Avila fired right back with four straight points to tie it at 13. Shortly thereafter D'Ovion Williams delivered a kill and a solo block to put the Eagles up 18-15, and they stayed in the driver's seat from then on. McPherson kept it close and ultimately tied it at 23, but back to back kills from Williams and Shay Karmazyn wrapped up the set in favor of the visitors, 25-23.

After a tight start to the fourth the Bulldogs edged out to a 13-9 lead before Avila once again answered with four straight to tie things at 13 apiece for the second straight set. Unlike in the third set, however, the Bulldogs made the next move in the fourth set, winning seven of the next eight points to build out a lead that the Eagles could not overcome. With McPherson two points away from the match, Karmazyn chipped in two kills and a block in crunch time, but ultimately a kill from Emily Leeson lifted the Bulldogs to a 25-20 victory and a 3-1 win in the match.

McPherson is a very different looking team than the one that finished second in the KCAC and made the NAIA Tournament a season ago, but this year the Bulldog offense is incredibly varied: five players finished between eight and ten kills. Williams led all players in another excellent outing with 11 kills on .476 hitting, while Karmazyn had one of her best games as an Eagle with ten kills, five digs and four total blocks. Abigail Blake and Kyleighn Block split time at libero and both registered a team-high 14 digs.

Up next, Avila volleyball will return home to host its second triangular match of the season this Friday, October 14 at Mabee Fieldhouse. Avila will kick off the afternoon by playing a conference match against Saint Mary at 1 PM, and the Eagles will close the event against College of the Ozarks at approximately 5 PM. USM and Ozarks will face off in the second match at around 3 PM. As always, you can watch all the action live on the Avila Sports Network.