WICHITA, Kan. - The Hesston College volleyball team faced a challenging weekend at the Friends University Tournament in Wichita, Kan., taking on Southwestern College, Crowley's Ridge College and host Friends University.

Game 1 – Southwestern 3, Hesston 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-16)
Hesston opened tournament play against a strong Southwestern side. The first set saw the Larks keeping pace early, as kills from Joanna Gomez and Layla Romero kept the score tight until Southwestern used a mid-set 6-1 run to pull away. In set two, Hesston's offense found moments of rhythm — Gomez continued to attack aggressively from the outside, and Annika Caudell came in to deliver a perfect 3-for-3 hitting performance. Setter Audrey Garrison distributed 20 assists on the match, mixing quick sets to the middle with outside swings to keep the defense guessing. Libero Bethanie Haag anchored the back row with 12 digs, while Kadence Taylor's 9 digs helped extend rallies. The third set followed a similar pattern — close early exchanges before Southwestern capitalized on Hesston errors and big swings at the net. The Larks finished with 25 kills, 35 digs and three team blocks, led by Gomez's 8 kills and Romero's 6.

Game 2 – Crowley's Ridge 3, Hesston 0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-21)
The second match of the day pitted Hesston against an aggressive Crowley's Ridge team that brought heavy serves and a strong block. The Pioneers set the tone with 15 total aces in the match, disrupting Hesston's passing and limiting their offensive flow. After a tough opening frame, the Larks regrouped in set two, where Lydia Foster connected on several key swings and Gomez added timely kills to keep Hesston within striking distance until late. Kennedie Esparza and Romero chipped in offensively, while Garrison tallied 19 assists and 9 digs, working to get the offense moving despite constant defensive pressure. In the third set, the Larks and Pioneers traded points deep into the frame with strong back-row play from Haag (9 digs) and Taylor (12 digs), along with improved serve receive. The Larks posted 23 kills, 49 digs and 7 service aces in the match.

Game 3 – Friends 3, Hesston 0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-17)
Closing the tournament against the host Falcons, Hesston ran into one of the hottest offenses they had faced all weekend, as Friends hit an efficient .417 for the match. In the opening set, the Falcons' quick offense and sharp passing put the Larks on the defensive, though Hesston managed points from Romero, Esparza and Foster to stay competitive early. The second set was tighter, with Hesston trading points up to the 10-10 mark thanks to aggressive serving from Haag and steady setting from Garrison. However, Friends responded with a decisive run, using balanced hitting from all rotations to close out the frame. In the third set, Hesston showed grit — Esparza finished with 5 kills, Foster added 4, and middle blocker Tanna Owens chipped in with key blocks and 3 kills of her own. Haag's 10 digs and Taylor's steady serve receive kept rallies alive, but Friends' consistent attack sealed the match. Hesston closed with 19 kills, 32 digs and 4 total blocks.

The Larks will be back at home on Tuesday (Sep. 9) as they host Southwestern College in a JV/Varsity doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.