WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College closed its 2025 volleyball season on Saturday with a hard-fought effort at York University, falling 3–1 (17–25, 25–22, 15–25, 21–25) in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup at the Freeman Center in York, Nebraska.
The Moundbuilders (9–19, 2–11 KCAC) showed grit and balance throughout the afternoon, rallying from an opening-set loss to take the second frame with sharp attacking and consistent defensive play. Freshman outside hitter Ashlyn Tag capped her season with one of her best performances, recording 11 kills and hitting .280 while adding a block and five digs. Senior hitter Autumn Bennett also finished strong, matching Tag with 11 kills and three block assists to pace the Southwestern offense.
Junior middle Macey Collier provided a spark at the net, tallying nine kills on a .353 hitting percentage and adding three blocks. Junior setter Natalie Blaufuss ran the offense effectively with 23 assists, two aces, and five digs, while senior setter Reece Likes added 18 assists and five digs of her own in a steady, composed performance.
Defensively, senior libero Avery Riedel anchored the back row with a match-high 18 digs, keeping rallies alive and giving Southwestern transition opportunities. Senior defensive specialist Riley Valley added five digs, and senior Kalissa Ortega chipped in eight while also contributing behind the service line.
After falling behind in the opening set, Southwestern regrouped and controlled much of the second, hitting .256 as a team. The Builders capitalized on York errors and rode a balanced attack to claim the set 25–22. The Panthers regained momentum in the third behind a strong blocking effort, but the Builders refused to fade, battling point-for-point in the fourth before York closed it out with a late surge.
Southwestern finished with 45 kills, seven blocks, and 52 digs in its final match of the season, marking steady improvement in offensive consistency and defensive coverage over the closing weeks of conference play.
The match wrapped up the 2025 campaign for the Moundbuilders, who showed growth under pressure and determination through a challenging KCAC schedule.
