Adams Shines in Sweep of Hannibal-LaGrange
OLATHE, Kan. – Taylor got a dominant performance from Amanda Adams in a convincing sweep of Hannibal-LaGrange to open its final day at the MidAmerica Nazarene Tournament and ended the weekend in Kansas with a 3-1 mark after a hard-fought loss to Doane.
TU rolled in Saturday’s opener, bouncing Hannibal-LaGrange (1-4) by a 25-10, 25-11, 25-14 score thanks to its best offensive showing of the young season. Taylor tattered its opponent for 47 kills and a .387 percentage in the three setter, while posting eight total blocks and holding a 51-33 edge in digs.
The Trojans never trailed at any point in the first two sets and only trailed twice by a single point early in the third and final set before taking control.
Adams led the onslaught with 18 kills and only two miscues in 28 swings, while adding three blocks and Kacy Bragg closed with 26 assists, 17 digs and one ace. Grace Isaacs and Julia Pomerenke each had a part in four blocks in the win.
TU ended just short of sweeping through the weekend, as a comeback attempt against Doane (3-1) fell short in a 25-15, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23 defeat. The Tigers started the match on fire and tallied 28 kills in 52 swings to open a 2-0 match lead.
Taylor answered in the third set, as two early blocks from Pomerenke and kills from Adams and Isaacs fueled a 6-2 start. A Ryan Czerniak kill pushed the gap to 15-8, before two more kills from Adams and an ace from Samantha Korn helped seal the 25-21 victory.
TU continued its strong play into the fourth set but trailed throughout and fell just shy of extending the competition to a fifth set.
Adams, Isaacs and Pomerenke all reached double figures in kills in the loss, with Nikki Parrett claiming two aces, Korn collecting 19 digs and Pomerenke adding seven blocks.
Taylor (4-4) will continue its early-season slate of tournaments on August 30 and 31, with a trip to Michigan for the Siena Heights Tournament.