Wildcats Open 2025 Season with Neutral-Court Sweep of Bluejays

ATCHISON, Kan. - The Baker volleyball team kicked off its 2025 season in dominant fashion with a straight-sets victory, defeating Tabor 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20) in a neutral-site match on Friday in Atchison, Kan.

Baker relied on a balanced effort on both sides of the ball to secure the sweep. Reigning Heart Freshman of the Year Aby Widhalm stuffed the stat sheet with 11 kills, 11 blocks, two aces and two solo blocks, anchoring the Wildcats at the net along with Meredith Brown, who chipped in three blocks. Setter Taryn Dial directed the attack with 13 assists while adding four service aces.

The Wildcats battled with the Bluejays in a neck-and-neck first set before BU started to pull away late, claiming six of the set's final eight points to take a 1-0 lead. Widhalm and Kylie Murray each connected on a couple kills late in the set with Murray hammering home the final point of the frame.

Baker edged out another close battle in the second, fending off a Tabor rally that erased BU's seven-point lead at one point and holding on to take the set on a score of 25-23. The Wildcats reeled off four aces in the set with Murray collecting back-to-back aces and Widhalm also contributing a pair of points from the service line.

In the third set, Baker found itself trailing through the early parts before rattling off 14 consecutive points to seize control and finishing the match off with a 25-20 win to earn the season-opening sweep. Dial racked up four aces during the scoring frenzy before setting up freshman Maggie Moulden on the final two kills of the night.

With the result, BU came out on top of its first match of the season for the third straight year after claiming victories over Friends in 2024 and Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2023.

It was also the third straight win for Baker in the all-time series against Tabor, earning a season sweep over the Bluejays in last year's matchups and sweeping them in Hillsboro, Kan. in 2023.

Baker returns to action on Tuesday, August 26 with a road matchup against another KCAC opponent in McPherson. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in McPherson, Kan.

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