PARKVILLE, Mo. – The William Woods University volleyball team had a rough start to day two of the Park Classic with a 3-2 loss to McPherson College. They then closed out the two-day tournament with a 3-0 loss to host No. 4 Park University.
 
The Owls continue their road tournaments on Sept. 16-17 at the Ottawa Invitational.
 
McPherson def. William Woods, 3-2
After taking up a 2-0 lead to start the match, the Owls lost 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25, 8-15.
 
By The Numbers
41 – Tori Rosemann pulled up a floor-high 41 digs.
29 – Logan Finneran recorded 29 assists.
18 – Kassidy Phillips led the floor with 18 kills.
13 – The Owls out-blocked MC 13-6.
10 – Rhakala Blackmon recorded 10 blocks, tying for fourth in the WWU record book.
 
Match Highlights
The Owls strung together a mid-set 4-0 run with two kills from Rhakala Blackmon to take a 13-9 lead. They again put together a 4-0 run after MC evened the score with three consecutive blocks. Blackmon had her hand in each block. Kassidy Phillips put down two kills to bring the Owls to set point, and a MC attack error ended the set with a 25-20 Owls win.
 
A kill from Phillips and two kills from Lanie Lowry put the Owls up 5-1, and two MC errors and a block from Lowry and Kennedy Lane brought the Owls' lead to 8-2. MC eventually evened the score, and held a three-point lead late in the set, 23-20. Phillips and Lowry combined for five consecutive kills to take the lead and win the set, 25-23.
 
The Owls carried their success into the third set as they put up a 4-0 lead. The lead bounced back and forth, but a kill from Alton followed by a kill from Lowry gave the Owls a four-point lead, 17-13. A late set 5-0 run from MC put the Owls down by one, 21-20. The Owls evened the score up twice but were MC ended the set with a 3-1 run to bring the match to 2-1.
 
MC's momentum continued into set four as they started with a 9-3 lead. A mid-set 6-0 run with two kills, two blocks and an ace from Phillips evened the score at 16, all. MC answered with a 7-1 run to go up by six, 23-17. The Owls were unable to recover, and the match was evened at 2-2.
 
After a tight beginning to set five, MC ended it with an 8-1 run.
 
 
No. 4 Park def. William Woods, 3-0
The Owls lost 25-11, 25-12, 25-14.
 
By The Numbers
14 – Logan Finneran led the team with 14 digs and 11 assists.
5 ­­– Riley Alton had a team-high five kills.
4 – Lauren Adams blocked a floor-high four attacks.