First place still in Lady Bluejays' favor
Tabor volleyball team stays sizzling with win over McPherson
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
With four games left in the regular season, every game is huge for the Lady Bluejays.
Win one and home court advantage throughout the post-season is all Tabor's.
One loss and the Bluejays' favorite team becomes whoever plays the Ottawa Lady Braves.
The McPherson Lady Bulldogs didn't have anything to say about that Monday night in Hillsboro, becoming the 11th consecutive team the Bluejays (16-10, 12-2 KCAC) have vanquished.
Half of Tabor's 11 straight wins haven't been the greatest outings, but a win is a win.
It took four games Monday for the Bluejays to knock out the Bulldogs.
After downing McPherson 30-17 in the opening match, the Bulldogs assured Tabor would need three wins with a 30-27 win in the second game.
The Bulldog shot must have sparked a fire under Tabor as it bounced back the next two games for respective 30-25 and 30-17 wins.
"It was not our best game by any means but the girls really turned it around after the second game," said Bluejay coach Amy Ratzlaff. "With four games left, every one is a big game right now. It was good to the have 'W' and we'll go on from there."
On Saturday morning in Hillsboro, Tabor ventured off the KCAC path and took on Southern Nazarene (Oklahoma).
The Bluejays polished off SNU in three, 30-24, 30-26, and 31-29 to run their win streak to 10 games.
Jill Hein capped off back-to-back stellar performances with 10 kills and four blocks.
Staci Whitcomb led Tabor with 13 kills and Erin Loewen added 11.
KCAC setter of the week Anne Gunden had 47 assists.
"Today was a great day of volleyball," Ratzlaff said of Saturday's win. "It was refreshing to play a non-conference team at this point in the season.
"Southern Nazarene hits the ball very well, but because we executed our offense better than ever, we were able to take control of the match. Hopefully, this win energizes us for the last five conference games."
Two days earlier in Hillsboro, the Bluejays got retribution from a past loss to the Friends Lady Falcons.
In a battle of the birds, the Falcons posed no threat with Tabor upending Friends in three, 30-24, 30-10, and 30-20.
Whitcomb paced the Bluejays in attacks with 12 kills and Hein and Lindsey Vogts combining for 16. Hein picked up a game-high 12 digs.
The Bluejays play host tonight to the Sterling Lady Warriors in a 7 p.m. showdown before making a long voyage Saturday to Leavenworth.
Saturday's action against St. Mary is scheduled for 11 a.m.
