Bison Volleyball Cruises in PAC Tri-Match

Oct. 10 – BETHANY, W. Va. - The Bethany College volleyball team picked up two wins as the Bison hosted a Presidents' Athletic Conference tri-match on Saturday. The Green & White defeated Chatham, 3-0, before taking down St. Vincent, 3-1.

The Bison never trailed in the first game against Chatham. Bethany jumped out to a 5-1 lead against the Cougars to open the match. Chatham responded with a small run of their own before the Bison took control and opened up a big advantage, taking the game 25-9. The Bison hit .458 in the set while totaling 13 kills. Bethany was led by Dakota McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) and Alexis Castro (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) as each recorded four kills. 

Chatham opened the second game with a 3-1 advantage before the Green & White went into cruise control. Bethany went on a 9-2 run to make it a 10-5 contest. The Bison never looked back as they took game two, 25-16. Arielle Sanders (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights) totaled three kills in the set.

The Bison took a slight advantage in the third game before Chatham responded to tie it at 7-7. Bethany, however, proved to be too much for the Cougars to handle, as a 15-3 run gave the Green & White a big lead. The Bison took the final set, 25-12.  The Bethany defense held Chatham to just two kills in the set, and Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) notched seven kills of her own.

Overall in the first match, the Bison hit Dylana McKenzie totaling 40 kills while making just 11 errors. Dylana McKenzie, who was honored during the game for her 1000^{thDakota McKenziefinished with a match-high 11 kills. Castro and Dakota McKenzie recorded seven kills each. Senior Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Mansfield) and junior Allie Powell (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) each collected 14 assists.}

In the second match, the Bison took on St. Vincent College. The Green & White got going early as they went on a 5-0 run to make it an 8-3 game. The Bison extended their lead to double digits as they took a 19-9 lead. From there, Bethany closed it out for a 25-16 victory in the first set.

Bethany College jumped out to a 5-1 advantage to start the second game. The Bison forced a St. Vincent timeout as they increased their lead to 10-3.  The Green & White found themselves up double digits for the better part of game two as they rolled to another 25-16 win.

In the third set, the Bison quickly took a 7-4 advantage over the Bearcats. St. Vincent responded with a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the game. Bethany took a timeout after they found themselves trailing, 14-11, but failed to stop the Bearcats momentum. St. Vincent held on for a 25-21 win in game three.

Bethany oDakota McKenziethe early lead in what proved to be Dylana McKenziet. The Bison opened their advantage to 10-5 after a kill by Dakota McKenzie. Consecutive blocks by Sanders and Dylana McKenzie made it a 14-7 game. The score would get no closer as the Bison would go on for the double-digit win, 25-11, taking the Dakota McKenziescore.

Junior Dylana McKenzAlexis Castroson offense with 14 kills in the match. Juniors Alexis Castro and Dakota McKenzie also notched double-digit kills. Defensively, the Bison got outstanding individual efforts Reilly Parker (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) and Sanders. Parker totaled a career-high 32 digs, which is the most by any Bison this season. Sanders tallied nine of Bethany's 13 blocks, a career-high for her. The nine blocks were also the most by any player for the Green & White this year. The Bison defense held St. Vincent to a .032 hitting percentage in the match.

The Bethany College volleyball team will be back in action on Tuesday, October 13 as they welcome Westminster at 7:00 p.m.