Bison Split a Pair on Day One of Christopher Newport Tournament
Sept. 18 – NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Bethany College volleyball team split a pair of contests in the first day of the Christopher Newport University Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Bison dropped the first contest, 3-2, to DeSales University, before taking down Averett University by a 3-0 score.
In the first match against the Bulldogs, the Bison hung tough, but fell by a 3-2 score. Bethany fell in the first set, 25-19 before taking the second set by a slim, 26-24 margin. After DeSales took the third set by a 26-24 decision, Bethany once again responded, capturing the fourth set, 25-20, to know the match 2-2.
The Bulldogs ran out to an 8-3 lead in the decisive fifth set. The Green & White would cut the advantage to as close as three points (14-11) on a kill by Alexis Castro (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain), but could get no closer as they dropped the set 15-11, and the match 3-2.
Offensively for the Bison, Dakota McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) led the way, tallying 14 kills while also notching a career-high 21 digs. The double-double was the second of the year for the junior outside hitter.
Other offensive leaders for the Green & White included Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) with 13 kills. Arielle Sanders (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights) and Castro tallied eight kills apiece. Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison) and freshman Emily Duke (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville) each finished with 21 assists.
Defensively, Bethany held DeSales to a .100 hitting percentage. Along with McKenzie's 21 digs, both Julia Mouch (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) and Reilly Parker (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) finished with 24 digs.
In the second matchup, the Bison rebounded with a straight-set victory over Averett. The Green &White posted a 25-16 win in set one, followed by a 25-20 win in set two and a 25-18 victory in the final set, to move their overall record to 9-3 on the season.
Dylana MDakota McKenzieain led Bethany with 10 kills while Sanders and Dakota McKenzie posted eight kills each. Castro and Mouch each tallied five kills while Duke totaled 21 assists for the second-consecutive match.
On the defensive side, the Bison totaled 7.0 blocks, led by five block assists from sophomore Sumayyah Muhammad (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding). Parker once again led the team with 15 digs, while Mouch totaled 12.
The Green & White will be back in action on Saturday as they take on Juniata College and the host Captains of Christopher Newport University. The Bison will open play against the Eagles at 2 p.m. with the matchup with the host Captains scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
