Mac spikers move to 8-4

By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

McPherson College's volleyball team isn't halfway through its schedule and already the Bulldogs have equaled their victory total from last year.

Mac moved to 8-4 here Wednesday with a thrilling five-game victory over Kansas Wesleyan in a matchup of upper-division KCAC teams. Mac is now 3-2 in conference play.

The Bulldogs had to win their final two games, both by narrow fashion, to come away with the victory.

Mac opened with a 30-28 win, but then lost 30-25 and 30-27 decisions. The Bulldogs then won 30-27 before the fifth game was another barnburner, 17-15.

In the deciding game, Mac was down 13-10, but some strong serving by Erica Alvarez got the Bulldogs back in it. Wesleyan, went up 15-14 with a chance for the win, but the Bulldogs scored the final three points. Andrea Gonzales tied it with a kill, and finally the winning point came when Stefanie Slinkard made a block that went off the Coyotes' Jennifer Joy and out of bounds.

"Our net play really stepped up and helped block or at least get a hand on the ball," Mac coach Nathalea Stephenson said.

Stat leaders:

Andrea Gonzales, 12 kills; 3 aces, 16 digs; Jenni Marquette, 2 kills, 1 solo block; Chandra Mayhan, 9 kills, 2 digs, 1 assisted block; Erin Pargman, 8 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig, 1 assisted block; Erica Alvarez, 14 kills, 1 ace, 11 digs, 5 solo blocks, 1 assisted block; Lisa Salazar, 7 kills, 1 ace, 18 digs; Stefanie Slinkard, 4 kills, 2 solo blocks, 1 assisted block; Kelsey Hendricks, 17 assists, 3 aces, 4 digs; Kelsey Crist, 13 digs; Kendra Stephenson, 30 assists, 1 ace, 8 digs.

Mac is home at 2 p.m. Saturday to take on Bethel, another top-division team.