BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Bluejay Volleyball returned to the court Tuesday evening after making the short trip to Baldwin City to take on Baker. The Bluejays came into the match after a disappointing, but encouraging weekend at the Viking Invitational in Marshall, Mo, while the Wildcats opened their season with a three-set sweep of Friends last Friday.
 
Tabor jumped on the board first in Set One, courtesy of a kill by Sammie Saunders with assistance from Mia Maly, and an ace by Josephine Fuamatu. Both squads tried to match each other throughout the first few points of the first set before Baker went on a four-point tear, only to have the Lady Bluejays jump out to a four-point lead (10-6) after kills by Saunders and Brindelyn Schneider (assisted by Kiana Unruh), three aces from Saunders, and an attack error on the Wildcats. Tabor took a 15-12 lead only to have the Wildcats rattle off three straight points to cut the Lady Bluejays' lead to one. Baker then tied the set at 17 and never looked back, taking Set One, 25-17.
 
Two Liana McGonigle kills and an attack error on the Wildcats gave TC an early 3-0 lead in the second set. Set Two provided the most entertainment of the three, with both squads taking turns scoring, but the difference proved to be the two scoring runs the Wildcats were able to string together, taking Set Two, 25-19.
 
Once again, The Lady Bluejays opened the scoring, putting two points on the board before the Wildcats, courtesy of an ace by Fuamatu and another kill from McGonigle, assisted by Maly. Baker overwhelmed the Bluejays, winning Set Three by a 25-16 score. Tabor drops to 1-4 on the season with the loss.
 
"I am so proud of the team tonight. While the result is not what we wanted, we took so many positive steps forward" reflected Head Coach Adam Brewster. 
 
"We have a 50/50 split of returners and newbies this season with a new head coach. There is a lot to adjust to and a lot still to figure out as a group, but the girls really embraced the process tonight. It felt like we were unified in our goals tonight which is a testament to the work these women have put in thus far in the short time that we have been together."
 
"It was great to see Sammie Saunders have a standout individual performance going six rotations, and Mia Maly and Kiana Unruh ran the best offense we have seen from our squad in a match this season. I am excited and encouraged after tonight."
 
The Lady Bluejays return to action this coming weekend as they head to Oskaloosa, Iowa to compete in the William Penn Labor Day Tournament.
 
Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.
 
Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).