HAMMOND, Ind. – Truman State Volleyball defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 3-1 in opening action at the Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Friday.
 
The Bulldogs, fresh off ending a 16-match losing streak to open the season, dealt the Panthers their 16th loss against zero wins while claiming back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a year. The 2023 Crossover saw the 'Dogs go 3-0 with victories over Kentucky Wesleyan, Lake Erie (Ohio) College, and Ursuline (Ohio) College.
 
Emma Baierl got things going for Truman State, building a 7-0 lead in Set 1, while notching three service aces. The Panthers climbed to within five at 9-4, but the Purple and White eventually pulled away to a 24-12 set point lead in the first.
 
Set 2 once again saw Truman State build a sizable lead at 11-4, but Kentucky Wesleyan then outscored the Bulldogs 10-2 to knot the score at 14. The 'Dogs kept pace, coming as close as 19-18, before the Panthers scored five points in a row to win, 25-20.
 
The third set proved to be a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to pull away by more than three until Truman State eventually climbed in front 19-15. Autum Erickson served the Bulldogs to a 22-17 lead with the set final in Truman State's favor, 25-20.
 
In Set 4, Kentucky Wesleyan kept the Bulldogs from pulling away until Tori Creason extended a 14-11 lead to 17-11. The Bulldogs stayed out of a fifth set when a Michaela Goad kill followed by a Panther attack error gave Truman State the victory.
 
Erickson, Goad, and Hannah Hosty combined for 16 blocks with Goad, Jessie Julius, and Hosty pacing the team in kills. 
 
The 2-16 overall Bulldogs finish action at the Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover tomorrow with matches against Lake Superior State (Mich.) University at 9 a.m. and Malone (Ohio) University at 4:30 p.m.