Volleyball Fights Valiantly against Nationally-Ranked MC

The Bethany College volleyball team went toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked Marietta, but ultimately, fell in straight sets, 25-15, 25-18, 25-20, Tuesday in non-conference action inside the Hummel Field House. 

After a slow start in the hitting category, Bethany improved over the next two sets.  

Marietta took control of the first set, scoring eight of 11 points late, to secure the 25-15 win. The Pioneers scored seven of the first eight points in the second set, but Bethany refused to fold. The Bison didn't allow all the visitors to run and hide and trailed by six late. However, they couldn't get any closer.  

Marietta was the aggressors early in the third set, scoring eight of the first 12 points, but this time BC scored seven consecutive points to take its first lead of the match – leading to a Pioneers timeout. The teams traded the next couple of points before MC tallied three straight to knot the game at 15. They went ahead to score six of the last eight points to secure the win.  

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES 

• Junior Averie Braymer led the team with six kills on 16 attempts and just one error for a .312 hitting percentage.  

• Senior Talia Gallagher finished with 14 assists, snapping a string of four matches with at least 20 assists. She had at least 30 in three of those four matches. Gallagher added a team-high nine digs. 

• Junior Adriana Gilliam finished with three service aces and five digs.  

Bethany (6-7 overall) travels to Washington, PA for the Washington & Jefferson tri-match with PSU-Altoona. The Bison plays host W&J at 11 a.m., followed by a match with PSU-Altoona at 1 p.m.