Bison Volleyball Closes Out Regular Season with Impressive Win over Case Western

Oct. 31 – CLEVELAND, Ohio – In a final tune-up before the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, the Bethany volleyball team posted a 3-1 victory over Case Western Reserve in a battle of evenly matched teams. The Bison controlled the defensive side in the match, totaling 116 digs.

The first set was tightly contested, seeing 13 ties during the span of the game. The Spartans took the first real advantage in the set, jumping out to a four-point lead (14-10) on a kill by Haley Kauffman. However, the Bison would have an answer, responding with a 5-0 run to take the lead. Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) tallied three kills in a row during the run, while Julia Mouch (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) gave the Green & White the lead.

The Bison would never again trail in the match's opening set, staying just ahead of the host Spartans by two points. Arielle Sanders (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights) gave the Bison their biggest lead of the set when she posted a kills for game-point, 25-22.

The second set was a game of runs for the Green & White. Trailing 6-4, Bethany put together a 7-0 adDylana McKenzie a five-point lead (11-6). During the run, both Dylana McKenzie and Dakota McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) posted three kills apiece.

Case Western would fight back, pulling within three at 12-9, before the BisonDylana McKenzieher solid run to put some distance between them and the Spartans. A pair of kills from Mouch and two more from Dylana McKenzie fueled another 6-0 run, pushing the Green & White to their biggest lead of the match, 18-9.

The Spartans would respond in kind, outscoring Bethany 14-5 to knot the second set at 23-23. However, the Bison would tally three of the final four points, taking the set, 26-24. Sanders once again provided the kill shot in the set, giving the Bison a 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard.

Following a set-three win by Case Western, the Bison would respond well to take the decisive fourth set by a 25-21 score. Midway through the fourth game, the team's found themselves tied at 12-12 when Bethany used a 5-1 run to put some distance between themselves and the Spartans. Alexis CastrDakota McKenzieOhio/Lorain) posted two kills in the run, while Dakota McKenziDylana McKenzieore.

Up just one point (18-17), the Bison would once again extend their advantage to four points, using a mini, 3-0 run to provide the difference. Following a kill by Dylana McKenzie, freshman Keili Terry (Leesburg, Va./St. John's) provided thDylana McKenzieng back-to-back aces. The Green & White would then go on to take the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-1.

Offensively in the match, the Bison got solid contributions from all around the floor, including a season-high 21 kills from Dylana McKenzie. The total marked the first time this season that McKenzie has broken the 20-kill Dakota McKenzietch.

Three other Bison finished the match in double figures, including 15 kills apiece from Sanders and Dakota McKenzie. Sanders hit .424 from the middle, committing just one error on 33 attempts. McKenzie added 16 digs to 15 kills, marking her fifth double-double of the season.

From the setter position, both Allie Powell (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) and Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison) had solid evenings, as both went over the 30-assist mark. Powell finished with a game-high 33, while Lauber posted 31.

Defensively, the Bison notched a season-best 116 digs, while holding Case Western to a .193Dakota McKenzietage. Freshman Reilly Parker (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) totaled a game-high 32 digs in the match, while Mouch notched her first 30-dig performance of the season, finishing with 30. Dakota McKenzie added 16, while Terry finished with 10.

The Bison, who earned the third seed in the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 3 as they host a first-round playoff game against #6 Washington & Jefferson. The matchup at Hummel Field House is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.