By Alex Robson
Sioux City, Iowa (MacBulldogs.com) — The Bulldogs volleyball team wrapped up their second day of action in Sioux City on Saturday (Aug 31) by getting a sweep victory over the Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees but fell victim to a sweep against the Dakota State University Trojans.
Game One- McPherson-3, Saint Ambrose-0
The Bulldogs started the first set hot, scoring five of the first seven rally points. Saint Ambrose would not go down without a fight though, as they would go on multiple small runs to keep chipping away at the lead McPherson held throughout the set. MC went on a run of their own, taking a 22-17 lead and forcing a Saint Ambrose timeout.
The Fighting Bees gave one last effort to cut it down to 23-21, but MC would not be denied as a Katie Warden kill would clinch the 25-23 set win.
Set two saw the Bulldogs go on another big run to start the game as MC would score 12 of the first 14 rally points, seven of them coming consecutively, to grab a 12-2 lead. The dominance would continue as a Saint Ambrose attack error would give a 23-9 set advantage to the Bulldogs. However, the Fighting Bees made the set interesting, scoring six straight rally points to make it 23-15. This run ended thanks to a pair of kills from April Conilogue and Warden to get a 2-0 match lead and a 25-16 set two victory.
MC got down 6-2 early in set three, but the Bulldogs stormed back and took a 7-6 lead thanks to five straight rally points. MC would held the lead to the end and capped off the sweep by scoring the final three rally points and completed the sweep with a 25-19 win in set three.
Brooke McHale led the team with 11 kills in the game with Warden following up behind her with 10. Katelyn Brogan led the way with 17 assists while Celestina Retumban recorded 14 digs.
Game Two- McPherson 0, Dakota State-3
Set One saw the Bulldogs and Trojans battling back and forth for the majority of the set. Dakota State generated a 15-10 lead but saw it evaporate as MC scored five straight rally points to tie it up at 15. The Trojans followed that up with a big run of their own, scoring seven straight rally points to make it 22-15. They held onto the momentum and won set one, 25-18.
The Trojans would start set two by once again generating a big lead, scoring the first six rally points. This lead went up in smoke as well as the Bulldogs stormed back to make it 7-6. MC continued to try and make up ground, by Dakota State would ride that early lead to the end of set two and win it, 25-21.
The Bulldogs traded points with Dakota State throughout the early portion of set three with neither team giving an inch as it would be tied 6-6. The Trojans then went on several small runs to take an 18-12 lead. The momentum would not be swayed as Dakota State finished the sweep by winning set three, 25-16.
Luisina Sandron led the Bulldogs with nine kills, followed by Daniela Jimenez with 8. Retumban would make her mark in the match by recording 22 digs on the day.
The Bulldogs are back in action on September 7 for the home opener against Hastings College at 11:00 a.m.
