<p><strong>Springfield, Mo. — October 12, 2024</strong></p> <p>Bethel College volleyball team faced a tough opponent in Evangel University, falling 3-1 in a competitive four-set match (29-31, 16-25, 27-25, 23-25). </p> <h4><strong>Set 1: (29-31)</strong></h4> <p>The first set was an intense back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points. Despite their efforts, Evangel narrowly edged out Bethel 31-29. The Threshers put up 14 kills but couldn't close the set.</p> <h4><strong>Set 2: (16-25)</strong></h4> <p>The second set saw Evangel take command early, taking advantage of Bethel's 10 attack errors. While Offerle and Kylah Carter added points, Evangel's consistent offense  proved too much. Bethel struggled to find their rhythm, hitting just .073 as Evangel cruised to a 25-16 win, putting Bethel in a 2-0 hole.</p> <h4><strong>Set 3:  (27-25)</strong></h4> <p>Bethel came out strong in the third set. The Threshers hit an impressive .306 in the set, with key contributions from Jordan Boone, who added 7 kills, and Ownbey, who continued to lead the charge. Bethel managed to edge out Evangel in a tight 27-25 set, giving the team a lifeline as they cut the match deficit to 2-1.</p> <h4><strong>Set 4: Evangel Seals the Match (23-25)</strong></h4> <p>In the fourth and final set, both teams fought hard, but Evangel managed to close it out 25-23. Bethel had opportunities to push the match to a fifth set, but critical errors and Evangel's strong blocking made the difference. Despite the loss, Offerle finished with 21 points, leading all scorers, and Mia Roman distributed 51 assists in a solid performance.</p> <p>Though Bethel fell short, the team demonstrated resilience against one of the top teams in the conference. The Threshers will look to bounce back in their next match and continue their pursuit of KCAC success.</p>