WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College will look to slow down one of the hottest teams in the NAIA as we welcome McPherson College to Stewart Field House on Saturday for a 1 p.m. first serve.
The Bulldogs (23-1) (6-0 KCAC) enter the weekend riding a 21-match win streak and sitting at the top the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference standings. McPherson, ranked No. 8 nationally, has dominated opponents throughout the season, hitting .291 as a team while holding foes to just a .115 attack percentage.
Senior outside hitter Brooke McHale leads McPherson's offense with 247 kills (3.25 per set) and a .255 hitting percentage, while Katie Warden has been equally potent with 245 kills and a .395 efficiency. Setter Roxanna Varela Parra has paced the Bulldogs' balanced attack, averaging 8.29 assists per set. Defensively, libero Celestina Retumban anchors the back row with 358 digs on the season.
Southwestern (8-13) (2-5 KCAC) will counter with a young but improving lineup. Freshman Mikki Johnson leads the Builders with 176 kills (2.71 per set), while senior Autumn Bennett adds 168 kills and a .221 hitting clip. Junior setter Natalie Blaufuss averages 4.67 assists per set, and senior libero Avery Riedel has been a steady defensive presence with 268 digs.
The Builders are coming off a three-set loss to Evangel on Wednesday but stilled continued to play with a competive spirit in every game, including a five-set road win over Avila on Oct. 8.
Southwestern aims for a home win to build late-season momentum. First serve is set for 1 p.m. at Stewart Fieldhouse.
