BALDWIN CITY, KANSAS – Grand View Women's Volleyball faced off against the Baker University Wildcats on Friday night in a Heart of America Conference matchup. In a closely contested match, the Vikings battled back after dropping two sets but ultimately fell short. Set scores were 25-13, 18-25, 23-25, 25-15, and 13-15.

The Vikings commanded the first set with 16 kills and a .368 hitting percentage, complemented by three aces, while maintaining a solid defensive front. Leading the offensive were Kaylee Stalder and Sydney Beasley, each contributing four kills. Libero Chevy Wagner-Chun added two service aces along with seven digs and two assists. Grand View secured the set 25-13.

In response, Baker ramped up the pressure early in the second set, claiming a lead over the Vikings. Grand View faced challenges in finding their rhythm but relied on front-row blocking to stay competitive. Despite three kills from Sydney Beasley, the Vikings couldn't reclaim their offensive momentum, dropping the set 18-25.

The third set proved to be a tightly contested battle. Grand View capitalized on key errors from Baker to stay even, despite Baker's slight hitting advantage. Chevy Wagner-Chun found her rhythm at the service line, adding two more aces. Leading the offense, Brooklyn Roder tallied five kills, followed closely by setter Jenna Bentz with three. In a close finish, the Vikings narrowly missed clinching the set, falling 23-25. 

Baker carried their momentum into the start of the fourth set, but Grand View quickly recovered, taking the lead at 11-10. The Vikings reclaimed the dominance they showed in the first set, closing out with a 25-15 victory. A balanced offense saw six Vikings notch a kill, with Brooklyn Roder, Sydney Beasley, and Ellie Dougherty leading with three each. Sydney Beasley set the tone nearing the final stretch, delivering back-to-back solo blocks. Chevy Wagner-Chun continued to showcase her serving strength, this time with four aces.

The deciding set was a hard-fought battle. Sydney Beasley made her presence felt early with three powerful kills, though the Vikings fell slightly behind as Baker reached the eight-point mark. Under pressure, Brooklyn Roder rose to the challenge, delivering two consecutive kills to push Grand View ahead 10-9. However, the Vikings faced difficulties that allowed Baker to reach match point. Late kills from Sydney Beasley and Ellie Dougherty brought the score to 13-14, but the Wildcats ultimately clinched the match. 

GAME NOTES

• Sydney Beasley led the offensive charge with a match-high 17 kills, closely followed by Brooklyn Roder with 14 kills.
• Chevy Wagner-Chun had an impressive night at the service line, delivering 8 of the team's 9 aces.
• Jenna Bentz had a standout performance, recording a season-high 9 kills and setting up the offense with a strong 45 assists.

UP NEXT
The Vikings have an opportunity to bounce back as they return to action tomorrow, Saturday, November 2^nd, facing MidAmerica Nazarene University at 12:00 p.m. in Olathe, Kansas.