Bison advance to PAC Title match with win over W&J, 3-0

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

Nov. 4 – BETHANY, W.Va. – Led by 17 kills by both Dakota McKenzie and Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum), the Bethany College volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-18) win over Washington & Jefferson in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament Semifinal match Friday night.

The Bison improve to 24-11 overall and advance to the PAC Championship match on Saturday, November 5 against Thomas More at 6 p.m. The Saints won the other semifinal match over Geneva, 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-21). Meanwhile, the Presidents' season ends at 20-10 overall.

The McKenzie twins paced each other, with each finishing with a match-high 17 kills. Senior setter Allie Powell (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) registered 40 assists and setup an offense that finished with a .263 hitting percentage for the match.

Three Bison tallied double-digit digs, led by freshman Maggie Merren (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) with 16 in the win. Sophomore Reilly Parker (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) and freshman Katie Sparks (Macedonia, Ohio/Trinity) added 14 and 12, respectively.

Washington & Jefferson maintained the edge early in the first set, leading by as many as four at 14-10, before the Bison rolled back. Bethany trailed 15-12 when it tallied 11-straight points to take a 23-15 lead. Junior Sumayyah Muhammad (Warren, Ohio/Warren Harding) put the set away with a kill and a solo block to give the Green & White the 1-0 lead.

The second set followed a similar pace, with W&J maintaining the lead and holding a 17-13 advantage. The Bison rallied once more, with eight of the next nine points to take a 21-18 edge. The Presidents closed the gap to one at 21-20, but a Powell service ace and a trio of kills by Dylana McKenzie put Bethany up 2-0 in the match.

The script was the same in the third set. W&J led by as many as three at 14-11, but another Bison rally helped secure the squads spot in the PAC Title match. Bethany recorded 14 of the next 18 points to finish off the Presidents and advance.

W&J was limited to a .158 hitting percentage for the match, with Madison Lydic and Abbey Eich leading the way with seven kills, apiece.

The Bison and Saints will meet for the PAC Championship for the second-straight year. Thomas More earned a 3-0 win over Bethany last season. The Saints have won seven PAC Championships, including each of the last four, while Bethany has never won a PAC crown.