LAWRENCE, Kan. — Southwestern College put together a perfect day at the Haskell Invitational on Friday, September 4th earning victories over Cottey College and previously unbeaten Philander Smith University to improve to 3-3 on the season.
The Builders opened the day with a 3-1 victory over Cottey, winning 25-13, 21-25, 25-16, 25-21. Southwestern followed with a five-set battle against Philander Smith, rallying for a 17-25, 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11 victory.
Game 1: Southwestern 3, Cottey 1
Southwestern set the tone early against Cottey with a dominant opening set. After the teams traded points early, Ayden Joely-Petroff helped spark a lengthy service run that turned a 4-4 tie into a 14-4 Southwestern advantage. The Builders cruised from there to a 25-13 first-set victory.
Cottey responded by taking the second set 25-21, but Southwestern regained control in the third. The Builders opened a 15-9 advantage before pulling away for a 25-16 victory.
The fourth set featured 11 ties, including a 21-21 deadlock late. Southwestern took control when Madison Perkins delivered a kill to put the Builders ahead 22-21. Macey Collier followed with another kill before Charli Richardson delivered back-to-back kills to close out the 25-21 victory and secure the match.
Southwestern finished with 45 kills and hit .185 while holding Cottey to a .062 hitting percentage. Richardson and Perkins led the Builders with 10 kills a piece, while Natalie Blaufuss added nine kills, 17 assists, 10 digs and two service aces. Collier was efficient with seven kills on 15 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage.
Joely-Petroff added 17 assists and three aces, while Brooklyn Milleson anchored the back row with 16 digs. Southwestern's serving also played a significant role, as the Builders recorded 11 aces compared with two from the Comets.
Game 2: Southwestern 3, Philander Smith 2
The Builders carried their momentum into the second match but had to battle from behind after Philander Smith took the opening set 25-17.
Southwestern responded in the second set. After trailing 11-8, the Builders used a 6-0 run highlighted by a Milleson service ace and kills from Collier and Milleson to take a 14-11 advantage. Southwestern maintained control down the stretch and evened the match with a 25-21 victory.
The Builders turned in their strongest offensive performance in the third set, recording 14 kills with only two errors on 26 attempts for a .462 hitting percentage. Southwestern built an 18-10 advantage and held off the Panthers for a 25-19 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Philander Smith refused to go away, taking a tightly contested fourth set 25-23 to force a decisive fifth set.
Southwestern responded when it mattered most. The Builders recorded eight kills in the final frame while holding Philander Smith to a .000 hitting percentage, closing out the match with a 15-11 victory.
Collier delivered a standout performance, recording a match-high 18 kills with only three errors on 31 attempts for a .484 hitting percentage. Richardson added 12 kills and 12 digs, while Kamryn Deffebaugh contributed nine kills.
Blaufuss directed the offense with 42 assists, nine digs and two service aces. Milleson led the defensive effort with a match-high 26 digs, while Ariel Heinrich added 13. The Builders finished with 78 digs and held Philander Smith to a .092 hitting percentage.
The victory handed Philander Smith its first loss of the season and completed a 2-0 day for Southwestern. The two wins also extended the Builders' winning streak to three matches and improved their overall record to 3-3.
Southwestern will return to action tomorrow against the Haskell Indian Nations University at the Tony Coffin Sports Complex in Lawrence, Kan.. First serve is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
