Bluejay spikers go 2-3 at Newman
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger.
That's one way to look at the Lady Bluejays' minefield of a preseason, which concluded Saturday at the Kansas Newman University Tournament.
Bluejay coach Amy Ratzlaff knew her team's early schedule would give her an idea of where Tabor would stand and be a great tune-up to take a crack at a fourth straight KCAC crown.
On Friday, the Bluejays upended one of Kansas' heaviest NAIA hitters, the hosting Lady Jets in five games.
Tabor tumbled in the first match, 30-23, won the second, 30-27, before dropping the third, 30-24.
Utilizing her bench, Ratzlaff and her Bluejays won the next two, 30-23 and 15-9.
Nebraska is one of the nation's volleyball hotbeds, and Tabor's second game opponent, Hastings College, showed why.
The Lady Broncos took the match in three, 30-17, 30-22, and 30-19.
The Bluejays got out of the bed on the wrong side Saturday morning, falling to Iowa's William Penn in three, 30-22, 30-21, and 30-26.
Saturday also had something good with the Bluejays toppling the top seed of Tabor's opposite pool. It took four games, with the Bluejays falling in the second game, 30-24, after winning the first match, 30-27.
Tabor took the next two matches, 30-26 and 30-21, once again setting up a rematch with the Broncos.
Once again, Hastings proved they had Tabor's number, winning in three, 30-20, 30-25, and 30-12.
Bethel
In the season's first showcase of the KCAC Thursday, the Bluejays, projected to finish second, knocked off the preseason favorite and bitter rival Bethel in a dramatic five matches.
The Bluejays got off to a rough start, dropping the first set, 30-24 before winning the next two, 30-27 and 30-22.
Bethel forced a fifth game with a 30-22 win in the fourth set.
Tabor won the match with a 15-11 win in the fifth.
For a progressive week, highly touted All-American transfer Anne Gunden was named the KCAC setter of the week.
On deck for the Bluejays is a 7 p.m. Thursday showdown in Ottawa against the dangerous Lady Braves.
The Bluejays traveled to Salina Tuesday for a match with Kansas Wesleyan. Results of Tuesday's action were not available at time of publication.
