Eagles Open Conference Play with Split

Manhattan, KS - After a season-opening road win at Union College this past Tuesday, the Eagles traveled to Manhattan, KS for the opening weekend of conference play. In a match similar to their opening win over Union College, the Eagles defeated Barclay College in straight sets on Friday, winning two of the three sets easily while pulling out a close win in the final set. On Saturday, the Eagles were challenged by defending conference champion and 2022 NCCAA Final Four finishers Manhattan Christian College. Manhattan controlled the match from the beginning as they handed the Eagles their first loss of the season 3-0.

In Friday's match with Barclay, the Eagles took early control of the match with 25-15 and 25-16 first and second-set wins. The Eagles looked to be cruising as they entered set three, and early on seemed to be on their way to another double-digit win. However, Barclay found some fight midway through the set and erased a six-point Eagle lead. The match went back and forth from there, with Barclay claiming a 22-21 lead. Faith responded to retake the lead but Barclay retied the set at 24 apiece. An attack error on the ensuing play by Barclay gave the lead back to the Eagles, and Barclay followed that error up with another one off of the Eagle's serve to hand Faith the 26-24 third-set win and match victory. 

Rachel Forgie led the Eagles with 12 kills, Reagan McPeek had 29 assists and 11 digs, and Madelyn Hodak had 13 digs.

Saturday's loss to Manhattan saw the Eagles fall 25-14, 25-17, and 25-13. Freshman Codie Wirges had eight kills McPeek had 18 assists, and Hodak had 19 digs. The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday, September 5, for their home opener, an exhibition contest against Waldorf University, at 6:00 PM.