McPherson, KS – Stephens College volleyball opened tournament play in McPherson, Kansas, on Friday with a pair of matches against Doane University and host McPherson College.
Match 1: Stars 1, Tigers 3
Stephens opened the day against Doane, falling 3-1 after taking an early lead in the match. The Stars came out strong in the opening set, earning a convincing 25-14 victory before Doane responded to take the next three sets, 25-21, 25-9 and 25-13.
The second set featured the closest battle of the match with 13 ties and four lead changes. Stephens recorded 12 kills while hitting .205 in the frame, but Doane pulled away late to even the match at one set apiece. The Tigers then carried the momentum into the final two sets to secure the victory.
Michalina Oles led the Stars offensively with 11 kills and three service aces. Anna Bradley followed with nine kills, while Jocelyn Rios added six and Alyssa Jackson finished with five. Audrey Dinwiddie directed the offense with 26 assists while also adding three kills and two service aces.
Defensively, Danika Brase led Stephens with 16 digs, while Alanis Francelino added 15 and Syerra Mitchell recorded nine. The Stars totaled 37 kills, six service aces and 66 digs in the four-set match.
Match 2: Stars 0, Bulldogs 3
Stephens closed out the first day of tournament action against host McPherson College, falling in three sets, 25-13, 25-12 and 25-12.
Anna Bradley led the Stars offensively with five kills, while Alyssa Jackson added four and Jocelyn Rios finished with three. Dinwiddie recorded 10 assists to lead Stephens in setting duties.
Francelino paced the defensive effort with 10 digs and also added a service ace. Oles recorded two of the Stars' four service aces, while Brase added another. Mercedes Britto contributed at the net with a solo block and a block assist.
Stephens will continue tournament play tomorrow with two more matches. The Stars will take on Loyola University New Orleans at 11 a.m. before closing out the weekend against Oklahoma Wesleyan University at 3 p.m.
