OTTAWA, Kan. - After alternating winning sets for the first four, the Bethel College volleyball team won a tightly contested fifth set over No. 23 Ottawa University.
The opening set went to the host team as Bethel hit just .125 in the 25-22. The Braves turned in 18 kills in the match.
Bethel bounced back in the second set to win 25-23 after hitting .215 and recording 14 kills. Bethel led by five late in the set, before Ottawa made a run to tie the contest 23-23 before BC put them away with kills from
Cameron Offerle and
Kylah Carter.
The Threshers never lead in the third set as both teams struggled offensively at the net, both turning in their worst hitting performances of the contest.
With their backs against the wall, Bethel came out firing in the fourth set. The Threshers turned in their best hitting performance of the evening, recording a .220 hitting percentage while holding Ottawa to .078.Â
Trailing 17-14 in the fourth, Bethel rattled off six straight points to take the late 20-17 advantage. The Threshers never relinquished the lead as they held on 25-20 to force a decisive fifth set.Â
After falling behind 3-1 to start the fifth, Bethel struck four straight times taking a 5-1 lead. BC was able to keep the No. 23 Braves at an arms length until the switch leading 9-6.Â
Facing set point, the Braves won two points to make the score 14-13, before Bethel took advantage of their third set point when Carter finished off the Braves.
Two Threshers recorded double-digit kills led by
Kylah Carter with 17 and
Landree Merriman with 10.Â
Continuing to lead the Thresher attack,
Kaitlyn Shima recorded 27 assists.
Darla Crow and
Jordan Boone both recorded 4 kills a piece in the five set victory.
Five Threshers recorded double-digit digs in the contest, three with 20 or more.
Katey Wilhelm led with 22, Shima recorded 21 and
Brooke Russell finished with 20.
This snaps an 18-game losing streak to the Braves and gives the Threshers their 18th win in their last 19 contests.
Bethel will be back in action on November 4th, as they take on OKWUÂ Eagles at 3:00 PM in Thresher Gym for a chance at the KCAC regular season championship.
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