SALINA, Kan. — York lost to Kansas Wesleyan 3-1 on Saturday: 25-16, 14-25, 22-25, 24-26.
The Panthers opened the match by pulling away late in the first set, using
Meadow Nusbaum's serve to move from an 18-12 lead to a 22-12 advantage with an ace, a
Florencia Felmer kill and two Kansas Wesleyan errors. After Kansas Wesleyan answered with four straight points,
Isidora Diaz Aguirre stopped the stretch with a kill,
Ambar Ortiz added an ace and Felmer closed the set with a kill for a York win: 25-16.
In the second set, York was even at 3-3 after
Emma Kerley's kill from
Kaylee Weigel, but Kansas Wesleyan scored the next eight points to put the Panthers in an 11-3 hole.
Jassania Joseph, Diaz Aguirre and Felmer added kills as the Panthers tried to respond, and
Tianna Clark's service ace made it 19-12. However, Kansas Wesleyan closed out the set: 25-14.
York's main push in the third set came after Kansas Wesleyan built a 19-12 lead, as Nusbaum served five straight points to bring the Panthers within 19-17. The stretch included a Nusbaum ace and a Diaz Aguirre kill, and York later got back to 22-21 with kills from Felmer and Joseph plus a block by
Gabriella Ayazo and Joseph. Kansas Wesleyan answered late and took the set: 25-22.
The Panthers rallied from 22-18 down to tie the fourth set at 22 with Nusbaum serving, including consecutive blocks by Ayazo and Diaz Aguirre. After Kansas Wesleyan moved back ahead 24-22, Diaz Aguirre's kill and a Kansas Wesleyan attack error brought York even again at 24. In the end, Kansas Wesleyan took the final two points of the set: 26-24.
Felmer led York with 11 kills and 11 points. Nusbaum finished with 19 assists, seven digs and two service aces. Ortiz recorded 16 digs, four assists and one ace.
Valentina Jimenez added 15 digs.
Up next, the Panthers visit Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska.
