Bison Come Up Short vs Bearcats

BETHANY-  Women's Volleyball hosted a familiar foe in the Saint Vincent Bearcats. The Bison gave a valiant effort forcing two sets to a deuce. However, Saint Vincent won three straight sets to take home the win.

Bethany got off to a rocky start, allowing four quick points to start the day. The Bison regrouped and shook it off, going on a five point run to take the lead.

When St. Vincent could get the ball over the net on their attacks, they were very effective. They finished set one with 13 kills. Errors kept Bethany in the match, with the Bearcats notching double digit errors (10) in set one.

The first set was neck and neck until the very end, with each team trading points until the Bison put the pressure on the Bearcats by flipping a 18-16 deficit to a 20-18 lead. 

Saint Vincent took a timeout to get on the same page, and brought the game to a 24-24 tie. A ball handling error gave the Bearcats the advantage, and a block took them to a set one victory.

Set two was one to forget for the Bison, who hit negative from the floor. The Bearcats took a 10-5 lead and never looked back, finishing set two 25-10. 

Set three was the most competitive of the day, with extended volleys and some acrobatic digs by both teams. No team led by more than three points the entire set. Bethany held an 11-8 lead after a big time kill from Shayleigh Hornyak, but neither team was able to create separation on the scoreboard. 

The tides of the match felt like they were going to turn in the favor of the Bison when Adriana Gilliam played a hand in scoring two consecutive points to take a 23-22 lead. The first being a block with Ashton Thomas. The second being an over the top hammer that got the crowd and benches loud.

Saint Vincent never got rattled. With the score knotted at 24, the Bearcats threw down two in a row. The game-ender boosted their kill total on the set to an impressive 17 kills, which was enough to earn them a win.

Bison Leaders- 

Averie Braymer led both teams in hitting percentage with a .333.

Lesley Sanchez had eight kills.

Thomas finished the game with two block assists, as well as a solo block.

Anna Taylor ended with 36 digs.

The Bison have invited Grove City into Hummel Field House for a Homecoming Week matchup to be played Wednesday at 6 p.m.