WINFIELD, Kan. — The Southwestern College volleyball team will close out its regular-season schedule Saturday, Nov. 7, when the Builders host York University in a KCAC matchup at Stewart Fieldhouse.
The match will also serve as Senior Night for Southwestern as the program recognizes its senior class in the final home match of the season.
Southwestern enters the matchup (7-17) (0-12 KCAC). The Builders return home after falling to Friends University in straight sets Wednesday in Wichita. Despite the loss, Southwestern recorded 32 kills, including a match-high 12 from Mikki Johnson.
Johnson has been one of Southwestern's top offensive threats this season, recording 185 kills and averaging a team-best 2.85 kills per set. Charli Richardson leads the Builders with 191 total kills while averaging 2.33 per set. Richardson has also contributed 173 digs, giving Southwestern production on both sides of the ball.
Haleigh Weber has provided efficiency at the net with 115 kills and a .249 hitting percentage, while Kamryn Deffebaugh has added 119 kills.
Senior setter Natalie Blaufuss will play her final regular-season home match after serving as a key part of Southwestern's offense throughout the season. Blaufuss leads the Builders with 414 assists, averaging 4.65 per set, and also leads the team with 46 service aces. She has added 154 digs and recently surpassed 1,000 career assists.
Defensively, Brooklyn Milleson leads Southwestern with 333 digs and averages 3.74 per set. Richardson follows with 173 digs, while Ariel Heinrich has contributed 160.
Southwestern has produced 959 kills through 89 sets, averaging 10.78 kills per set with a .134 hitting percentage. The Builders have also recorded 170 service aces, averaging 1.91 per set.
York enters Saturday's (8-18) (2-10 KCAC). The Panthers have relied heavily on their defense and middle attack throughout the season.
Jassania Joseph leads York offensively with 183 kills and has been the Panthers' most efficient attacker, posting a .339 hitting percentage. Joseph has also been a major presence at the net with a team-high 48 total blocks and has added 34 service aces.
Florencia Felmer has contributed 143 kills, while Ronan Merriex has recorded 119 kills with a .246 hitting percentage. Leyra Ruiz has added 100 kills, giving York multiple attacking options.
Meadow Nusbaum directs the Panthers' offense with 457 assists, averaging 5.02 per set, while Ambar Ortiz leads York with 309 digs. Valentina Jimenez follows closely with 301 digs.
Saturday's matchup features two teams with different strengths. Southwestern has produced more offense per set, averaging 10.78 kills compared with York's 10.09. The Builders also hold an advantage in hitting percentage, .134 to .117, and service aces per set, 1.91 to 1.74.
York, however, has been stronger defensively, averaging 15.16 digs per set compared with Southwestern's 13.64. The Panthers also hold a slight edge at the net, averaging 1.01 blocks per set compared with Southwestern's 0.96.
For the Builders, establishing their offense through Johnson and Richardson while using Blaufuss to distribute the ball effectively will be important. Southwestern will also look to use its serving pressure to force York out of system and limit opportunities for Joseph, who has been the Panthers' most efficient offensive option.
The teams last met Nov. 8, 2025, in York, Neb., when York defeated Southwestern in four sets, 25-17, 22-25, 25-15, 25-21. Southwestern responded after dropping the opening set by taking the second 25-22 before York controlled the final two sets.
Blaufuss recorded 23 assists and two service aces in that matchup. Johnson added eight kills. Joseph led York with 15 kills while hitting .400.
Southwestern will look to reverse last season's result and finish its home schedule on a strong note Saturday.
First serve between Southwestern and York is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, inside Stewart Fieldhouse.
